Punto Appoggio Alpe Cavaione
3.2
Piedmont, Italy
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About
Punto Appoggio Alpe Cavaione sits at 2,382m on the Alpe Cavaione plateau in the Pennine Alps, Piedmont. Reach it from the Val d'Aosta side via the town of Champoluc, then hike 3–4 hours from Colle della Bettola. The route climbs steadily through alpine meadows and crosses sparse rocky terrain. From the south, approach from Gressoney-La-Trinité: a longer but gentler 4–5 hour walk gains the plateau. Both routes are well-marked but exposed to weather.
This is a refuge point more than a full hut. It offers basic shelter, a small staffed room, and beds or dormitory space for roughly 20–30 people. Meals depend on staff presence and season; bring food for self-catering if arriving in shoulder months. Water is available. The hut works as an overnight base for ridge traverses and scrambles across the Alpe Cavaione plateau, or as a stopping point on longer Pennine Alps routes. July through September sees reliable staffing. Winter and early spring access is serious mountaineering terrain.
Contact the managing group through CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) offices in Aosta or Piedmont for current opening dates and staffing. Book beds directly when possible; this hut fills quickly on weekends in August. Arrive early in the day if you're dropping in unannounced, especially mid-week in summer when a single caretaker manages the refuge.
This is a refuge point more than a full hut. It offers basic shelter, a small staffed room, and beds or dormitory space for roughly 20–30 people. Meals depend on staff presence and season; bring food for self-catering if arriving in shoulder months. Water is available. The hut works as an overnight base for ridge traverses and scrambles across the Alpe Cavaione plateau, or as a stopping point on longer Pennine Alps routes. July through September sees reliable staffing. Winter and early spring access is serious mountaineering terrain.
Contact the managing group through CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) offices in Aosta or Piedmont for current opening dates and staffing. Book beds directly when possible; this hut fills quickly on weekends in August. Arrive early in the day if you're dropping in unannounced, especially mid-week in summer when a single caretaker manages the refuge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book 2–4 weeks ahead during summer season, especially weekends; contact the hut directly or check rifugio.net and cai.it for availability and phone numbers. This is a small refuge point with limited beds, so advance notice is essential.
Open mid-June to mid-September; staffing depends on weather and demand, so confirm opening dates before you go. Winter access is technical and not standard.
From Champoluc (Val d'Aosta), hike 3–4 hours via Colle della Bettola through alpine meadows; from Gressoney-La-Trinité (south), allow 4–5 hours on a gentler route. Both paths are well-marked but exposed; start early and watch the weather.
Expect basic accommodation (dorm beds only), simple meals, and minimal facilities typical of a refuge point rather than a full hut; no shower, so bring a washcloth. Confirm exact services when you book.
Not ideal for beginners—the exposed terrain and 3–5 hour approaches demand fitness and mountain sense; families with teenagers experienced in alpine hiking may manage the southern route. Better suited to experienced hikers doing multi-day mountaineering traverses.
Location
45.8742, 8.1161
HutLists Score
3.2
Overall
Facilities
Access
Season
Based on facilities, access, and how reliably the hut is open.
Quick Facts
- Managing club
- CAI
Facilities
Breakfast
Meals served
Drinking water
Activities
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