Cabane du Plan du Jeu
1.5
Valle d'Aosta, Italy
About
Cabane du Plan du Jeu sits at 2,284m in the Gran Paradiso valley, on the Italian side of the border. Reach it from Cogne in about 4 hours on foot. The trail climbs steadily through larch forest, then opens to alpine meadow. In winter, the approach becomes a ski tour from the same trailhead. Summer hikers should allow 2.5 hours for the descent.
The hut sleeps around 40 people in dorm rooms. Meals are simple and substantial: expect pasta, polenta, and local cheese. There's no shower. Water comes from the mountain. The hut runs mid-June to late September, plus weekends in shoulder seasons depending on snow. Staff will make packed lunches if you ask the night before.
Book directly through the hut phone line 2–3 months ahead for July and August. July and August weekends fill quickly. May and early June are quieter if you can tolerate snow patches on the upper trail. The hut sits on the CAI network but isn't managed by CAI, so check their website or call ahead for current opening dates and kitchen hours.
The hut sleeps around 40 people in dorm rooms. Meals are simple and substantial: expect pasta, polenta, and local cheese. There's no shower. Water comes from the mountain. The hut runs mid-June to late September, plus weekends in shoulder seasons depending on snow. Staff will make packed lunches if you ask the night before.
Book directly through the hut phone line 2–3 months ahead for July and August. July and August weekends fill quickly. May and early June are quieter if you can tolerate snow patches on the upper trail. The hut sits on the CAI network but isn't managed by CAI, so check their website or call ahead for current opening dates and kitchen hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book 2–4 weeks ahead during July–August, earlier if you're going in shoulder season. Contact the hut directly by phone or email, or check rifugio.net and cai.it for availability and online booking options.
It's typically staffed mid-June through September for summer hiking, and sporadically in winter for ski tourers. Confirm current dates before planning your trip.
Start from Cogne, the main trailhead in the Gran Paradiso valley; allow 4 hours up and 2.5 hours down. The route climbs through larch forest then opens to alpine meadow, gaining roughly 800–900m elevation.
The hut serves simple, filling meals—pasta, polenta, local cheese—and sleeps about 40 in dorms. There's no shower; water availability is limited, so bring a basin if you want to wash.
Yes, for fit hikers and families with solid mountain experience; the 4-hour ascent is steady but relentless at altitude. Young children or those new to Alpine hiking should build fitness first—it's not a beginner's first night hut.
Quick Facts
- Managing club
- CAI
- Season
- –
- Total
- 40
- Dormitory
- Emergency
- Private rooms
Facilities
Meals served
Drinking water
Contact & Booking
- Phone
- Website