Refuge de Campana de Cloutou

The Refuge de Campana de Cloutou is an FFCAM hut at 2225 m above the Lac de Campana, in the high altitude of the Vallée de Campan on the edge of the Réserve naturelle du Néouvielle in the central Pyrenees. Built in 1980 and extensively renovated in 2020-2022, the hut now offers 36 beds in several cozy dormitories and serves as a stage stop on variants of the GR10 and on crossings of the Néouvielle massif. It is usually open from the beginning of February to the beginning of April and from the end of May to the beginning of October; in between, there is a small winter area for which a reservation is required, as for all overnight stays. In summer, the Refuge is an ideal base for multi-day tours between the many lakes and ridges, and in winter for ski and snowshoe tours. In the evening, multi-course menus with soup, hot main course, cheese and homemade desserts are served, while during the day, simple dishes, cakes and a much-praised blueberry tart are served, mostly made from organic or regional products. The most common ascent starts at the Virage du Garet above Artigues and takes around 3.5 hours with an altitude difference of around 875 meters; other long climbs lead up from the Col de Portet, Artigusse or Lac d'Orédon. As the refuge is located in high alpine terrain, the weather forecast, current conditions and any closures should be checked carefully before each tour.