Refuge Buffère

⦾ In summer: 1/ From Névache Ville Haute (Tourist Office), cross the Clarée at Pont de l'Outre and hike up the right bank, skirting around the stunning Cascade de Desbaret waterfall before reaching Pont du Rately. Leave the bridge on your right and continue along the GR57 (the red/white markers), with a steeper gradient along a beautiful forest of "meleze" (hybrid larch) to the hamlet of Le Serre, from where you can look out over the valley and enjoy a gentler climb to reach Refuge Buffère. TIP from the refuge host: Follow the little path through the woods! 2 hrs 15 2/ Just above the village, walk up the Vallon de Cristol to the left. After a steep climb through the forest at an altitude of 2,100 m, follow signs for the Côte Rouge path, then veer left as you leave the woods to reach the refuge. 2 hrs 30 3/ From the Serre Chevalier valley, leaving from Monétier les Bains (4 hrs) on the GR50 or from the Bergerie St Joseph on the Col du Granon route (2 hrs 30), take the Chemin du Roy to the Col de Buffère and then head down the Vallon de Buffère.

⦾ In winter: From Névache Ville Haute take the snow-covered and surfaced Haute Vallée de la Clarée road (DO NOT take the path on the right bank of the Clarée or the Côte Rouge path as there is a risk of avalanches). After passing the Bon Secours and Sainte Barbe chapels, turn left at the sign for Refuge Buffère, cross over the Clarée at Pont du Rately and climb up through a larch tree forest following the trail up to the refuge, which is well maintained by the refuge hosts.