Le Montavoix
Le Montavoix is a guarded backcountry passage hut in the French Jura near Saint-Claude. It sleeps 12 and is very rustic: no electricity, no running water (water comes from a source about 150 meters from the hut), and dry toilets.
Use is tied to the presence of the guardian: the hut is open only when the guardian is on site, and it’s scheduled for evening hours after reservation through the morning (17:30 to 09:30). The hut stay is €12 per night (local tax included), with winter sleeping bag rental available for €3 per night.
Food is handled with the guardian—meals are eaten together, and you pay a reasonable contribution for groceries, prep, and cooking. For packing, bring warm winter sleeping gear, a sleeping mat, and a headlamp; also bring rain protection and rubber boots. No one should plan on bringing soap/dentifrice or cooking gear, since these are handled/provided as described for hut use.
Access is by foot from the Saint-Claude area: the hut is not reachable by car. A practical approach starts from Saint-Claude toward Genève (via Rochefort and keeping to the D436), then following the directions to a nearby bridge and the forest path up to the hut; an alternate winter approach is to park at Stade de Serger and follow guidance toward “Fontaine aux Oiseaux” before continuing to Le Montavoix.