The Barbustel Mountain Hut (2.154 m.) is a stone and timber building situated in the Mont Avic Nature Park, in the Aosta Valley. Perched on a panoramic hilltop near Lakes Bianco, Nero, Cornu and Vallette, it offers spectacular views stretching from Mont Avic to Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and the Dent d'Hérens.

The refuge can accommodate around 40 people in rooms with bunk beds (with shared bathrooms on each floor) and serves traditional Aosta Valley cuisine; however, the winter lounge is not available. It is an essential stop for hikers and trekkers seeking total immersion in nature and high-altitude panoramas.

How to get there

  • from Champorcher – La Cort hamlet (1,760 m.), where you can park your car. Immediately to the right of the car park, trail n. 10 sets off towards the Barbustel Refuge and Colle del Lago Bianco. The path climbs until it reaches the Muffé stream, entering the Mont Avic Nature Reserve. From here, the path climbs again and you soon reach Lago Muffé, at an altitude of 2076 m, on the shores of which lies the refreshment point of the same name. Continue until you reach Colle del Lago Bianco (2309 m), the highest point of the hike, where you can admire a fantastic view of Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. The route then descends slightly towards the refuge.
    Difficulty: E excursion route
    Elevation gain: 394 m
    Duration: 1h30

  • from Champdepraz – La Veulla (1.298 m.), take path n. 5C, which starts as an easy, almost flat dirt track. You pass through Servaz Desot (1541 m), where the route becomes a proper path leading into the woods, before climbing through meadows and rocky terrain with splendid views of Monte Rosa. The ascent is steady and leads to Lake Servaz (1843 m), continuing on to the refuge. For the return journey, you can follow trail no. 5, thus creating a pleasant circular route. After Lake delle Vallette, you follow a picturesque panoramic traverse, then descend more steeply towards La Ville, passing by Lake Leser and the upper and lower pastures of the same name, crossing one of the most important Swiss stone pine forests in the area. 
    Difficulty: E excursion route
    Elevation gain: 856 m
    Duration: 3h30 one way



Services

Restaurant (only for clients) Restaurant bar (also open to the public)

Prices

Half board (price per person)
69,00 € - 69,00 €
Single use travel sheet
4,00 € - 4,00 €

Prices are valid from 01/12/2025 to 30/11/2026

How to get here

By car

  • to get to Champdepraz: Verrès motorway exit. At the roundabout turn left towards Aosta; after approximately one kilometre, turn left on the bridge and follow signs for Champdepraz.
    Carry straight on until you reach the hamlet of Fabbrica, then carry on uphill until you reach the town centre. From the town centre carry on uphill for several kilometres until you reach the hamlet of La Veulla.

  • to get to Champorcher: Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit. Having reached the stop sign straight after the Pont-Saint-Martin exit on the A5, turn left and follow the signs for Aosta.
    Go past the towns of Donnas and Bard until you reach a roundabout, at this point turn left towards the valley of Champorcher. Go past the towns of Hône and Pontboset and carry on through the valley for approximately 13 kilometres until you reach the centre of Champorcher in the hamlet of Castello. Take the first road which bends to the right and follow the signs for the Parco (Park) del Mont Avic.

By public transport

The nearest railway station is in Pont-Saint-Martin.

  • To get to Champdepraz: the Pont-Saint-Martin/Aosta bus route runs along the SS 26 to the municipality of Champdepraz; the Carema/Montjovet circular route also serves some of the municipality’s hamlets.
  • To get to Champorcher: from the railway station, an hourly local bus service runs to the municipality of Hône (14 journeys a day), and from there a regular coach service (around 6 journeys a day) runs to the main town of Champorcher.