Puy Saint
Vincent
Pelvoux-Vallouise
Tips
Access to the Bans mountain refuge is easy. It will take 1½ to 2 hours to walk there (460 m climb) from the Entraygues car park approximately 10 km from Vallouise. (By car from Vallouise, go to and drive through Le Villard, continue up the magnificent Onde valley to the car park).
To start, cross a typical gravel area that leads to the first steep section that in turn leads you to cross a larch forest. As you leave the wood, you enter a valley of waterfalls and streams. It is possible to see the refuge from here, on the headland in the distance.
This relatively flat valley means that the walk to the Bans refuge is open to children and people who do not have much training.
About half-way there you will go past the tadpole pond, which is an ideal spot to have a short break.
Finally, to reach the refuge, skirt the rocky headland to the back on the recently renewed path. This last portion is short but slightly steeper. It is the deserving aspect of the Bans refuge.
Once you are up there, you will be able to admire the valley that you have climbed from above.
To start, cross a typical gravel area that leads to the first steep section that in turn leads you to cross a larch forest. As you leave the wood, you enter a valley of waterfalls and streams. It is possible to see the refuge from here, on the headland in the distance.
This relatively flat valley means that the walk to the Bans refuge is open to children and people who do not have much training.
About half-way there you will go past the tadpole pond, which is an ideal spot to have a short break.
Finally, to reach the refuge, skirt the rocky headland to the back on the recently renewed path. This last portion is short but slightly steeper. It is the deserving aspect of the Bans refuge.
Once you are up there, you will be able to admire the valley that you have climbed from above.
