Refuge du Charbon
4.3About
Refuge du Charbon sits at 1660m in the Chaîne de Belleville massif in Savoie, within reach of the Parc National de la Vanoise. Access is via the Belleville valley; the approach takes roughly 2.5 hours on foot from the nearest roadhead. This is a working base for hiking and ski touring rather than a destination hut, and its modest elevation means early-season and late-season access is generally feasible when higher refuges are still snowbound.
The refuge has 15 beds across shared rooms. The guardian provides simple meals and packed lunches. You'll find drinking water and flush toilets; there are no showers. The hut stays open year-round, though it operates on a smaller scale outside summer months. Winter access depends on snow conditions and your skiing ability. The setting is functional—good for fast alpine pushes into the surrounding peaks rather than leisurely rest days.
Book directly with the guardian well ahead for July and August weekends. Contact details and current availability are best confirmed through the FFCAM refuge database or by calling ahead. The hut fills for weekends during summer, but weekday slots are usually available. Winter visits should be arranged in advance to ensure the guardian is present.
The refuge has 15 beds across shared rooms. The guardian provides simple meals and packed lunches. You'll find drinking water and flush toilets; there are no showers. The hut stays open year-round, though it operates on a smaller scale outside summer months. Winter access depends on snow conditions and your skiing ability. The setting is functional—good for fast alpine pushes into the surrounding peaks rather than leisurely rest days.
Book directly with the guardian well ahead for July and August weekends. Contact details and current availability are best confirmed through the FFCAM refuge database or by calling ahead. The hut fills for weekends during summer, but weekday slots are usually available. Winter visits should be arranged in advance to ensure the guardian is present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact the refuge directly at least 2-3 months ahead for July and August; shoulder seasons (June, September) usually have availability with shorter notice.
Staffed June to September; the low elevation (1660m) makes it accessible earlier and later than higher refuges.
Approach via the Belleville valley from the nearest roadhead—allow 2.5 hours on foot to reach the hut.
Expect basic meals (half-board or packed lunches), drinking water, and flush toilets; no showers, so bring a washcloth.
Yes—the modest elevation and moderate 2.5-hour approach make it accessible for fit hikers without technical experience, though it functions mainly as a base for mountaineering trips into the Vanoise.
Location
45.7326, 6.2045
HutLists Score
4.3
Overall
Facilities
Access
Season
Based on facilities, access, and how reliably the hut is open.
Quick Facts
- Managing club
- PNF
- Total
- 15
Facilities
Meals served
Flush toilets
Drinking water
Contact & Booking
- Website
- http://tousaucharbon.over-blog.com/
Activities
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