Au Pied du Mur

Au Pied du Mur sits at 1,850m in the Isère, on the Plateau du Vercors. It's a working mountain farm and guesthouse rather than a staffed alpine hut. Reach it from the Gorges de la Bourne via the hamlet of Villard-de-Lans—roughly 1.5 hours on foot from the main road. The approach is steady and well-marked; most hikers arrive via the GR91 trail network or local forest paths. The location works as a base for exploring the Vercors plateau, with access to the Cirque d'Archiane and routes toward Mont Aiguille.
The hut offers 12–15 beds in simple rooms. Meals are farm-focused and served communally. There's no electricity or running water in the traditional sense—you'll use an outside toilet and wash in cold water. This is genuine mountain hospitality, not a resort. Winter access depends on snow conditions; staff confirm the hut is open roughly May through September. Call ahead during shoulder seasons.
Book directly by telephone—there's no online system. Expect a busy period mid-July to mid-August, especially weekends. July and August require booking 4–6 weeks in advance. June and September are quieter. Half-board (bed and evening meal) is the standard arrangement. This hut attracts people who want simplicity and community cooking, not hikers expecting hot showers or Wi-Fi.