Refuge du Col de la Croix du Bonhomme
Refuge du Col de la Croix du Bonhomme is a staffed mountain refuge operated by Club Alpin Français at 2443 m on the Mont Blanc massif above Bourg-Saint-Maurice. It sleeps 99 in summer, with winter capacity set at 26, and it sits far from roads and outside the water/electricity networks, so power and lighting depend on the refuge’s system and you’ll want to plan accordingly for an alpine stay.
Use is centered on hut service with dinner/half-board in the guarded period (guarded from June to mid-August 2026). Arrival is time-bound: the official arrival deadline is 17:30 (summer) to keep the evening meal service running. Liners/silk sheets are mandatory in the dormitories (sleeping bags are not used there), and the refuge runs paying solar showers plus wet and dry toilet facilities; in low-water periods, wet toilets/showers may be temporarily closed. Local drop-off logistics matter—bring out your rubbish (no bin-lorry access to the refuge).
In addition to refuge lodging, the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme sits at a junction used by long-distance hiking routes such as the GR 5 and the Tour du Beaufortain, making the refuge a practical base for high-alpine traverses and connecting days. Multiple summer approaches converge on the refuge, including routes from Plan de la Lai (via the GR 5) and from the Chapieux via the Cormet de Roselend side.
The refuge is also set up for bivouac near the hut, and it has facilities intended for group stays. In France, the refuge is approved for accommodating supervised minors under a specific regulation (minors in supervised groups).