Le Branchu
Le Branchu is a backcountry wilderness hut run by Club de plein air de St-Donnat, located at Lac Simon near Saint-Donat. It sleeps up to 6 people and is set up with mattresses, storage (lockable cupboards), and a slow-combustion stove; there is no running water or electricity, and a dry toilet is nearby.
Reservations are required to stay. Fees apply, and check-in starts at 4:00 PM with check-out by 10:00 AM. For the hut, you’ll need to plan for firewood/ignition as the wood is provided only for fires inside the refuge; bring a way to make a fire (newspaper/kindling or firestarter, plus a lighter or matches). Cellular reception is generally functional from the refuge, and registration is required online to access the trails used for the approach.