La Grave - Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne mountain hut

(S) From the hotel, head left along the D1091 and, after passing a few souvenir and grocery shops, you’ll reach a narrow lane opposite the telephone exchange.
Take this, head down to the right and pass between the houses to reach the bottom of the village. Cross the bridge over the Romanche and join the D233T.

(1) Turn left onto it. Walk past the campsite to reach a large bend.

(2) Join the^GR® on the right, climb steeply through the woods, continue on and reach a wooden gate on the path.

(3) Go through it, continue along the^GR® through the woods to begin a descent and reach the left bank of the Romanche at the footbridge in the village of Villar-d'Arêne.

(4) Do not take the footbridge but continue along the Romanche on an almost flat path. Reach the Pont Vieux or Pont des Brebis at a place called Le Pied du Col.

(5) Cross the bridge and continue along the road to the right. Pass the Pont d'Arsine, near the campsite, and head towards the lake. Continue to follow the^GR® along the right bank of the lake until you reach a car park.

(6) Carry on for a few hundred metres until you reach a steep but easy climb. Pass the Ruisseau du Colombier and then the Pas d'Anna Falque. You will then come to a crossroads.

(7) Continue along the^GR® to the left to reach the large plateau at a new crossroads.

(8) Leave the path on your left – this is the so-called ‘Crevasses’ path which leads to the Col du Lautaret – and continue straight ahead. Walk past the weather station. Then take one of the paths on the right leading to the clearly visible Refuge de l’Alpe de Villar-d’Arêne and the bivouac area (E), today’s stop, which is situated all around the refuge.

Stage with approx. 800 m of ascent and 200 m of descent
(S) Departure from La Grave.
(E) Arrival at the Refuge de l'Alpe de Villar d'Arêne where we camped; very warm welcome, good food, and very clean sanitary facilities.
(E) A lovely camping spot right next to the refuge amidst the pastures, with exceptional views.
Useful addresses and links:
Refuge de l'Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne
Telephone numbers: 04 76 79 94 66 or 04 76 79 93 44

As with all mountain hikes, bring binoculars, a camera, an IGN map and/or a guidebook.
There are plenty of streams, so you won’t have any trouble finding water.
Note: Many herds are guarded by sheepdogs, known as ‘patous’. Hikers are therefore strongly advised not to stray from the path. If you encounter a guard dog, remain calm and passive to reassure it.

(8) Stay at the summit for a few moments to admire the magnificent landscape of the Plan d’Alpe and the mountain ranges, each as impressive as the next: the Pic de Gaspard, the Pointe de Nérot, the Roche Méane, the Grande Ruine, the Pic de Chamoissiére, the Pic de Neige Cordier, the Pic d’Arsine, as well as the peaks of the Barre des Écrins and the Meije.