Refuge des Bans

de fr

This hike is easy, with only a few short sections requiring a little more attention. Easy to access, the Bans refuge has the feel of a high mountain refuge. The climb along the Bans torrent is gradual. After a small rocky outcrop on which the refuge is perched, the reward is there! The view is unique, overlooking a cirque enclosed by magnificent peaks.
And what can we say about the kindness of the refuge wardens, who will serve you meals and drinks?

Technical sheet

n°102145
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 512 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 511 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,082 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,610 m
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Photos

Hike starting point Refuge des Bans
Vallée des Bans, with the refuge in the background
The solar oven at the Refuge des Bans and the Torrent des Bans
On the descent

Description of the walk

Park at the Entre les Aygues car park at the end of the road from Vallouise.

(S/E) At the end of the car park, take the path that follows the Torrent des Bans (signposted). The path is flat at first, then gradually climbs.

(1) Continue along the balcony. The view of the peaks closing off the valley is superb. At the end of June, the mountains are adorned with their most beautiful flowers, and the colours explode.
The climb is gentle and steady, crossing several small streams. Along the Torrent des Bans, the first snowfields appear. Pass the place called "Cabane des Bans" and continue along the edge of the stream. Reach the Refuge des Bans by climbing a slightly steeper section equipped with handrails.

(2) Start your return journey, descending via the same route and taking the time to admire the mountain's most beautiful sights. Return to the car park (S/E) at the end of this easy and beautiful hike.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,617 m - Parking is available at the edge of the - Onde (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Gyronde
  2. 1 : km 0.62 - alt. 1,652 m - Start of the balcony trail
  3. 2 : km 3.95 - alt. 2,080 m - Refuge des Bans
  4. S/E : km 7.85 - alt. 1,616 m - Parking

Practical information

Bring appropriate equipment for hiking in the mountains: suitable footwear, a warm jacket, water, etc.
Hot meals and drinks are available at the refuge.

You are hiking in the heart of the Ecrins National Park.

The Ecrins massif is an exceptional area, open to all, with a rare natural, cultural and landscape heritage. To protect these treasures, the heart of the park is marked by blue, white and red flags, where regulations must be observed. Please read them when preparing your hike in order to preserve this collective heritage, on the website https://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr.

In the nearby area

(2) Refuge des Bans: where the wardens offer a very warm welcome. Just before the refuge, you will notice the refuge's chicken coop and vegetable garden.

Visit Vallouise and its narrow streets.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 38 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
daniel 64
daniel 64

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful, relatively easy hike, the passage through the riverbed is well marked but still somewhat uncomfortable. There are a few simple, slightly mountainous steps before reaching the refuge. The warden is very friendly!

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benedicte brument
benedicte brument

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike in magnificent surroundings surrounded by waterfalls, ending at a very nice, slightly technical refuge. A good meal at a very reasonable price. Well done to the wardens.

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bln2bcn
bln2bcn

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Hike completed in mid-August 2024 with two children aged 5 and 8 (who are pretty good walkers).
We left the car park at 10 a.m. It was far from full. We expected crowds, but in the end it was quite peaceful.
The hike is fairly easy. The climb is steady and not too difficult. It takes about two hours to reach the refuge. It's very beautiful, surrounded by peaks over 3,500 metres high with small glaciers.
The refuge is very nice: cold beer on tap and food. You can enjoy your picnic at a table while having a drink.
There are lots of places along the way to pick blueberries and raspberries. And there are plenty of spots to sit by the stream and cool off.
It's a great hike to do with the family.

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Butch
Butch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Completed as a family with children aged 3, 5, 7 and 9. With children, I would classify this hike as moderate in terms of difficulty, bearing in mind that they were already fairly fit after two weeks of hiking. There are some sections with poor paving that are not ideal for walking. I had to carry the youngest quite a lot.
The first third of the route consists of climbing up the ravine, under cover of vegetation. Be careful with children as there are some steep drops above the stream in places, even though the trees make it seem less so.
When you leave the forest, there is a flatter section in the meadows with a magnificent view of a series of peaks over 3,000 metres high and their glaciers. A detour had to be made for 800 metres, via the torrent's boulder field, to get around a landslide. This increases the difficulty of the route.
The last 500 metres to the refuge are the most difficult as you have to climb the rocky outcrop. The option of bypassing the torrent depends on the course of its bed and is not always possible.
As an option, it is possible to climb a little higher in the cirque, up to the snowfields (no path)
The route is fairly busy but not excessive, with some congestion in the first section, which then thins out.
For those who would like to have a bite to eat at the refuge, I would still recommend bringing your own sandwiches, especially if you have children. The staff are friendly and the food is good, but they are not very quick ^^ (euphemism: 2 hours' wait for an omelette and 3 pancakes). Otherwise, it's perfect for a beer and the view!

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le-cardinal
le-cardinal

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : Yes

In short, a bit too crowded. We climbed up to the refuge on one of the slopes running alongside the torrent, but it wasn't very interesting, with breaks in the track caused by rockfalls forcing us to cross the torrent.

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Chrisemb05
Chrisemb05

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Not very busy as it was a weekday in September.
Very beautiful hike, the final effort to reach the refuge is superbly rewarded!
Very friendly warden and refuge, magnificent view.

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cheippe
cheippe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A magnificent hike accessible with minimal training. Be aware that parking is limited on busy days. For those who, like me, are prone to vertigo, you can bypass the last section on the side of the rock by following the river upstream. This will take you to the helipad, and the last 100 metres are not too vertiginous. You can then enjoy the view from the refuge and its delicious treats.

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Doc Arverne
Doc Arverne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A superb hike that is easy to do without training for anyone who is used to walking in the mountains.
Magnificent landscapes.
Impossible to get lost.
However, it gets very busy in summer, so it's best to arrive at the car park before 10 a.m.
We skipped the last few metres as the climb to the refuge was too crowded and ate near the stream instead.

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Loique45
Loique45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A magnificent, peaceful hike to enjoy with friends or family on a well-travelled circuit, but without having to walk in single file!
Unspoilt nature all around with the river, mountain pastures, mountains and butterflies everywhere!
Beautiful nature is everywhere and there is a splendid view of the heights and the snow that is still present!
The view from the refuge towards the valley is magnificent
Delicious snacks reward your efforts and are well worth a break to contemplate such beautiful scenery!
The same goes for the climb up to the refuge and the snow-capped mountains surrounded by a gradient of green flowers!
Loique45

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello
Thank you for this message, which is essential for all hikers and indeed for everyone, even those who don't hike.
Visorando, mindful of this fact, has proposed a charter that every Visorando user can obtain when editing the route sheet, which addresses this issue of waste. It reads as follows:
"TAKE YOUR WASTE WITH YOU
YOUR RUBBISH
do not leave any traces
of your visit."
Unfortunately, everyone acts in their own way.
Have a nice day

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Gérald35
Gérald35

An eco-friendly gesture that anyone can do: take your beer bottles, cans and other rubbish back down to the valley... It's not heavy and doesn't take up much space in your backpack... And it avoids having to dispose of rubbish by helicopter!

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Gérald35
Gérald35

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A magnificent hike of moderate difficulty (a few exposed sections, caution advised, and some serious climbs), with a wonderful reward at the end: the chance to enjoy a cold drink, a slice of blueberry tart, or even a Savoyard fondue, although the chef's speciality is homemade chips. Apart from a few marmots, we didn't see any chamois or other animals.
Please note: the access road is very narrow, and two cars cannot pass each other everywhere!

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Thomas19
Thomas19

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike, short and easy.

There was still a bit of snow at the end, which made it a little tricky to follow the route, but it was fine. Walking sticks help.

The refuge is open but unmanned.

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alain.dardant@bbox.fr
alain.dardant@bbox.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb hike at the bottom of the valley with breathtaking views of all the surrounding peaks and streams.
The caretaker gave us a very warm welcome and took the time to chat with us.
Her blueberry tarts are very good.
Some of our group of 13 hikers climbed an additional 200 metres above this mountain refuge and on the way back we stopped for a picnic in front of a pretty waterfall, then went swimming in the stream in the afternoon, a little further down, in very cold but much appreciated water.

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Tank81
Tank81

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Perfect. Beautiful hike, exceptional site. The last half hour is tough, especially with a 5-year-old, but arriving at the refuge is the reward.

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