Arbolle

The Arbolle Mountain Hut (2.507 m)  situated in the municipality of Charvensod in the heart of the Aosta Valley, stands in the valley of the Comboé stream, near the ancient Arbolle mountain pasture and the lake of the same name. Opened in July 1998, the refuge is nestled in the unspoilt alpine environment of the Graian Alps and serves as a strategic base for ascents of Monte Emilius and Becca di Nona.

The refuge has 66 beds, divided between four-bed rooms and dormitories, offering a warm welcome and an authentic mountain atmosphere. During the summer season, it is an ideal destination for hiking, mountaineering, high-altitude training and events for nature and mountain lovers.

How to get there

On foot: 

• from Pila (1.800 m)  Set off from the Pila cable car station and follow the signs for trails nos. 14, 19 and 102. The route first passes through a cleared strip amongst the fir trees,  populated by rowan, alder and grassland,  reaching the Chamolè mountain pasture,  and then the lake of the same name. You finally climb the grassy ridge where the scenery becomes more captivating and the view of the lake below grows increasingly striking. Once past the countless hairpin bends, you reach the pass and the Arbolle basin opens up before you, with the refuge and the two small lakes situated nearby. From here, you descend the path, aided by a rope in the first section, and soon reach the splendid basin and the refuge.
  Difficulty: E excursion route 
  Elevation gain: 841 m
  Duration: 2h30

• from Gimillan Cogne (1.814 m.), follow paths 3 and the TVC (Tour Valle di Cogne) route, which wind through a beautiful coniferous forest and leads to the Vallone di Arpisson and the Arpisson mountain pasture (2.328 m.) in around 1 hour 30 minutes. From the mountain pasture, follow path 2 and the TVC until you reach the beautiful Pian Bessey at around 2.500 m. Continuing the ascent, you reach the Nebbia bivouac at 2.741 m. and from here the high-mountain moraine landscape takes over from the alpine pastures you have just left behind. From the bivouac, the path climbs steeply with tight hairpin bends until it reaches Col Garin at 2.815 m. from where the refuge is clearly visible. Descend along the moraine trail, following path n. 18 and TVC, until you reach the first pastures of the Vallone di Arbolle; from here, keeping the stream and Lake Arbolle on your right, you reach the refuge.
  Difficulty: E excursion route 
  Elevation gain: 1.000 m.
  Duration: 3h30

Alternative: start from Gimillan (Cogne) via the Punta Valletta via ferrata – a much less well-trodden route that requires a high level of fitness, both due to the length of the hike and the physical exertion involved.

By Lifts:
Check lift opening times before planning your trip

Aosta cable car 583 m.  – Pila / Pila chairlift – Chamolè 2.309 m. top station. From the chairlift, you can easily reach the nearby Lake Chamolè at 2.325m. From here, take path n. 102, which climbs steeply with numerous hairpin bends through pastures and scree to Colle Chamolè (2.641 m.). From the pass, the path descends into the Vallone di Arbolle, with an initial steep section aided by a fixed rope, leading directly to the Refuge.
Difficulty: E excursion 
Elevation gain: 350 m. from the Chamolè chairlift to the pass, then 134 m. descent from the pass to the refuge
Duration: approx. 1h30