Refuge de Solacyre - A family hike/snowshoe
🗺️ Overview
- Starting point: Carrière des Chamois (1400m)
- Arrival point: Refuge de Solacyre (1827m)
- Altitude gain: 400m
- Time: ~2 hour (loop)
- Difficulty: Easy
We did this hike in winter, and it was a fantastic experience! The paths are well-organized, with sections of the summer road with snow groomed for easy walking (no snowshoes needed) and other stretches through the woods where snowshoes might be necessary, especially after fresh snowfall.
You can find the full map [here], or clicking on the image below. It will allow you to download a detailed PDF with hike descriptions.
The Route
Starting from the quarry, take the left-hand path (as you face away from the quarry) and begin your ascent along the summer road. After about 20 minutes, you’ll reach a bifurcation: one route continues right along the road, while the other veers left through the woods.
We chose to go uphill via the forest trail and descend via the road—and it was the right choice to do it uphill. The wooded section had some icy patches that would have been tricky on the way down, but going up was manageable (or with snowshoes it would be no problem). After about 30 minutes in the woods, the trail reconnects with the road, and from there, it’s just a five-minute walk to the refuge.
The Refuge
Perched at 1827m, the Refuge de Solacyre is a cozy, welcoming mountain hut managed by a few lovely elderly ladies. The menu is simple but delicious, featuring hearty soups with flowers in them and planchettes with local cured meats and cheeses.
A Perfect Family Hike
This hike is great for families, offering a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path experience away from the ski slopes. We even saw a dad pulling his baby up in a sledge! The route is accessible but still feels like an adventure.
If you’re lucky enough to get a sunny day, the views are spectacular—especially if the valley below is covered in fog as in our case (you can see it in the picture).
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