Chapelle Saint-Pons
1.1
1,457m
Piedmont, Italy
About
Chapelle Saint-Pons sits at 1457m in the maritime Alps above the Vallone della Rovina in Piedmont. Reach it from Ponte di Nava on foot—allow 2.5 hours ascending through mixed forest and alpine meadow. The approach is straightforward but steep in sections. This is a tiny refuge, not a hotel, and that's the point.
The chapel-refuge has 3 beds total across simple dormitory space. Meals are self-catering—bring what you need or arrange food delivery in advance with the guardian. Water comes from a spring. There's no electricity, heating, or shower. The hut operates year-round but winter access depends on snow conditions and your mountaineering skill. It works best as a base for traversing toward Colle di Garezzo or as an overnight stop on longer Ligurian Alps routes.
Contact the guardian directly before attempting to visit. This place fills quickly with experienced Alpine Club members (CAI/SAT) who know the terrain. Solo visits in winter require mountain sense. Check conditions at cai.it or ask at the CAI section in Cuneo before departing.
The chapel-refuge has 3 beds total across simple dormitory space. Meals are self-catering—bring what you need or arrange food delivery in advance with the guardian. Water comes from a spring. There's no electricity, heating, or shower. The hut operates year-round but winter access depends on snow conditions and your mountaineering skill. It works best as a base for traversing toward Colle di Garezzo or as an overnight stop on longer Ligurian Alps routes.
Contact the guardian directly before attempting to visit. This place fills quickly with experienced Alpine Club members (CAI/SAT) who know the terrain. Solo visits in winter require mountain sense. Check conditions at cai.it or ask at the CAI section in Cuneo before departing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book well ahead—this 3-bed refuge fills quickly for weekends and summer. Contact the guardian directly via rifugi.net or CAI Piedmont section to confirm availability and arrange meals if needed.
Typically open June through September, staffed by a guardian during peak season. Check current opening dates with CAI before planning your trip, as a 3-bed mountain chapel operates on limited hours.
Start from Ponte di Nava and allow 2.5 hours ascending through mixed forest and alpine meadow; the route is straightforward but steep in sections. This is a proper hiking approach, not a cable car or road access.
You get 3 simple dormitory beds and self-catering meals—bring your own food or arrange supplies with the guardian in advance. Water is available on-site; shower facilities are minimal or nonexistent in a chapel-refuge of this size.
No—the 2.5-hour steep ascent and bare-bones 3-bed setup demand hill fitness and self-reliance. This is for experienced hikers doing mountaineering traverses in the Maritime Alps, not casual walkers.
Quick Facts
- Season
- –
- Total
- 3
- Dormitory
- Emergency
- 3
- Private rooms
Facilities
Self catering
Contact & Booking
- Phone
- Website