Les Six Cabanes

At an altitude of 2,000 metres, ruined huts and an enclosure emerge from the ground. These stone shelters, built on a vast natural site, are well worth a visit. The remains of these dwellings transport us back to the forgotten history of a former pastoral past, where it is good to let your imagination run wild, following in the footsteps of those who came before, exploring their history and way of life.

Details

794713
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.10 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,041 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,038 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,979 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 980 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park, located to the left of the D985A road, on the outskirts of Saint-Maurice-en-Valgodemar heading up the valley.

(S/E) Return to the road and enter the village. After the town hall, turn right and begin the climb. A few metres further on, follow the street to the right, which then turns left horizontally. Take the grassy path on the right that passes behind a house and joins a road. Follow it to the right to the end via a steep climb, ignoring a path branching off to the left.

(1) Continue straight ahead along a path between two walls, running along the back of a house. Cross the stream via the footbridge and begin the climb through the woodland. After a few hairpin bends, you’ll reach a fork.

(2) Continue to the right towards Les Six Cabanes and the Cabane de la Salette. The clearly visible path leads to the Cabane de la Salette as you emerge from the woodland.

(3) Follow the path that goes over the hut and reach the next fork.

(4) Take the hairpin bend to the right towards the Six Cabanes. The narrow path climbs in hairpin bends with a steep gradient. Arrive at the mountain pasture on a flat area and discover the remains of the Six Cabanes.

(5) Enjoy the view and begin the descent via the same route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 980 m - Saint-Maurice-en-Valgodemar car park. Near the - Séveraissette (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 1,017 m - Start of the trail
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 1,164 m - Turn right towards Les Six Cabanes
  4. 3 : km 2.92 - alt. 1,655 m - Cabane de la Salette - Cabane de la Salette (Ecrins)
  5. 4 : km 3.18 - alt. 1,705 m - Turn right towards Les Six Cabanes
  6. 5 : km 4.05 - alt. 1,979 m - Les Six Cabanes
  7. S/E : km 8.1 - alt. 980 m - Car park at Saint-Maurice-en-Valgodemar

Notes

Water source and shelter available at the Cabane de la Salette.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
patembrun
patembrun

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular hike, involving an ascent via the Rochimont hut, followed by a traverse and climb up to the Six Cabanes. It was a surprise to see that a team from the Une Pierre sur l'Autre association was in the process of restoring the huts. So that gives me a reason to go back and have a look.

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Sirc05
Sirc05
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A quiet route. A delightful stop at the six huts: these magnificent dry-stone structures take us back to a bygone era of pastoral life.

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Sterimberg
Sterimberg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. I’d like to suggest a slight variation:
At the first fork, instead of turning right towards the 6 huts, carry straight on towards the Rochimond hut. At the hut, turn right towards the Salette hut and the 6 huts. Just before the Salette hut, take the path on the left towards the 6 huts. You can return via the Salette hut.
The advantage of this alternative route, apart from the fact that it forms a circular route rather than a return journey, is that after the Rochimond hut, you’ll find a long balcony-like section offering magnificent views of the Valgaudemar peaks.

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Pierre viso
Pierre viso

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A little-known and therefore quiet route.
This valley is a lovely find. This route is well suited to hot days as a good part of it is in the forest without sacrificing the views.
After the 6 huts, it is possible to reach the Col de Menoux (480m elevation gain) via a marked and more technical path.
Similarly, on the descent after the six huts, you can take a detour via the Rochimont hut.
Thanks, Denis, for this lovely hiking idea.
Pierre

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