# Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme, France: what it is and when to go

> Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme is a mountain hut in France, at 2,443 m above sea level. Interests: Mountains and Hiking. The best time to visit is July to September, a short season because of the altitude. In June there are 15 h 30 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 30. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/refuge-du-col-de-la-croix-du-bonhomme/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Mountain hut · Mountains, Hiking
- **Where:** France
- **Elevation:** 2,443 m
- **Best time:** July to September.
- **Nearest airport:** LYS Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône, 126 km as the crow flies
- **Opening hours:** 2026 Aug 17-2029 Jun 01 off
- **Website:** [refugecroixdubonhomme.ffcam.fr](https://refugecroixdubonhomme.ffcam.fr/)
- **Beds:** 99
- **Booking:** Required
- **Shower:** Has a shower
- **Run by:** Club Alpin Français
- **Coordinates:** 45.72205, 6.71732

## What it is and where

Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme is a mountain hut in France, at 2,443 m above sea level. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

Its coordinates are 45.72205, 6.71732; the nearest main airport is Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS, Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône), 126 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=45.722055%2C6.717319)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.722055%2C6.717319)

- **Beds:** 99
- **Booking:** Required
- **Shower:** Has a shower
- **Run by:** Club Alpin Français

It is one of the [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/montana/) and [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/senderismo/) places in France. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme is **July to September**, and the season is short because it sits at 2,443 m: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Better not | 8 h 52 |
| February | Better not | 10 h 08 |
| March | Better not | 11 h 37 |
| April | Better not | 13 h 18 |
| May | Better not | 14 h 43 |
| June | Possible | 15 h 30 |
| July | Best time | 15 h 11 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 57 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 18 |
| October | Possible | 10 h 40 |
| November | Better not | 9 h 13 |
| December | Better not | 8 h 30 |

In June there are 15 h 30 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 30. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mountains | July to September | June and October |
| Hiking | July to September | June and October |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to France

To enter France there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the France checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and E · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 15 ambulance (SAMU) · 17 police · 18 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Tête Sud des Fours](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-sud-des-fours/): Summit · 1.1 km
- [Tête Nord des Fours](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-nord-des-fours/): Summit · 1.6 km
- [Tour Du Mont Blanc - Variante du Col des Fours](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tour-du-mont-blanc-variante-du-col-des-fours/): Hiking · 2.1 km
- [Aiguilles de la Penaz](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/aiguilles-de-la-pennaz/): Nature · Mountains · 2.9 km
- [Refuge de la Gittaz](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/refuge-de-la-gittaz/): Mountains · Hiking · 3.3 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

## More in France: Mountains

- [Mont Blanc](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-blanc/): highest mountain in the Alps
- [Mont Ventoux](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-ventoux/): mountain of the Alps in southern France
- [Lalouvesc](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-besset/)
- [Aiguille du Midi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/aiguille-du-midi/)
- [Monte Viso](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/monviso/): the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps, located in Italy
- [Dune of Pilat](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/dune-of-pilat/): tallest sand dune in Europe

Every France place under Mountains, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/montana/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme?

It is a mountain hut in France. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme?

July to September, and it is worth checking carefully: at 2,443 m the season is shorter than lower down. In June there are 15 h 30 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 30.

### How do you get to Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme?

The nearest main airport is Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS), 126 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.722055%2C6.717319) opens the route on the map, and how to get around France is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the France map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Tête Sud des Fours](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-sud-des-fours/), [Tête Nord des Fours](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-nord-des-fours/), [Tour Du Mont Blanc - Variante du Col des Fours](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tour-du-mont-blanc-variante-du-col-des-fours/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/193017620), licensed under the ODbL. More about Refuge du col de la Croix du Bonhomme on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge_du_col_de_la_Croix_du_Bonhomme). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).