Refuge · 2391 m
Rifugio Crête Sèche
At 2,410 metres in the upper Valpelline, above Bionaz, the Crête Sèche refuge overlooks the eponymous reservoir and the valley climbing to the Col de Crête Sèche, a glacier pass towards Switzerland. A base for the peaks of the Grand Combin group and the high-altitude lakes, it stands in a mineral, wild setting, among the most secluded in the region.
Altitude
2391 m
Valley
Valpelline
Beds
86
History
Born as a shelter for climbers bound for the head summits — Mont Gelé, Becca Crétaz and the border points — the hut has been renewed and enlarged over time while keeping its character as the valley’s simple, family-run outpost. The Fenêtre de Durand just above has for centuries been the shepherds’ and smugglers’ passage between the Valpelline and the Val de Bagnes.
Contact & booking
Official manager details — always check opening dates and rates on the website before you go.
Where it is
45.8823, 7.3989 · 2391 m
What to bring
A sleeping-bag liner (required in many huts), cash (cards are often not accepted at altitude), a change of clothes and warm layers for the evening, a headlamp, a water bottle. Always book your bed and meals in advance, and let the hut know if you cancel.
What to do there
Enjoy dinner in good company and the sunset from the terrace. Many use the hut as a base for a dawn departure: ask the keeper about trail and weather conditions before setting out, and start light while the snow is still firm. The climbing routes are on the trail pages above.
Nearby peaks
Community gallery
Photos are published immediately. JPG/PNG/WebP, max 6 MB.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors
Rifugio Crête Sèche