Here is a (by no means non exhaustive) list of most of the more popular alpine huts located in the Northern Alps, their telephone numbers (when calling from within the country use the zero) and how to get there.

Please remember that you should call before hand to reserve space.They hut keepers have a hard enough job as it is, be polite and reserve before showing up. They need to prepare dinner and bed space for everyone.For those of you on a tight budget or climbing outside of the summer season, remember there is always a winter room that is open. There may also be gas and pots for cooking and blankets as well.

The huts or "refuges" belong to the Alpine clubs of their respective countries (French, Italian, Swiss) and members obtain a reduced rate. During the ski touring season and the summer they are staffed and dinner and breakfast are served. They are what they are. Bunk style sleeping arrangements that have warm wool blankets (you don't need a sleeping bag) and everyone has dinner at the same time, which is a set meal - usually very delicious. Learn to appreciate what the staff does for you (especially when you come out of a raging blizzard), but don't expect a five star hotel. Remember you are up in the middle of the high mountains and life is hard enough as it is. Sometimes the folks there are a little cranky - just let in go in ear and out the other BUT DON'T get them mad, you won't enjoy your stay…

Generally speaking, the following rules must be respected:
1) Reserve your space by telephone at least one week in advance.
2) Leave your skis outside the hut and crampons and ice axe in the entrance. Use the hut slippers and don't walk around inside with you boots on.
3) Usually the dorms are closed during the day and the hut keeper gives out the bed space once everyone has arrived. If someone is really tired and absolutely has to lay down, just ask him. No noise after 9 pm - some people (generally climbers) may be getting up very early.
4) The hut keeper and his staff (often the family) are the ones that do the cooking. They also need time to rest and eat. If they are in the middle of a meal, come back later. In the French huts you can cook your own food. But NEVER in the dinning room ! In the Swiss "cabins" this is not allowed and if you bring your own food you will have to cook it outside or ask the hut keeper to cook it for you. If you have brought your own provisions, don't forget that the hut keeper makes his living by selling drinks and food and don't be surprised if you aren't his favorite customer.
5) You can pay with either cash (French francs in France, Swiss francs in Switzerland), or by eurocheques.
6) Dorms are for sleeping - sometimes people seem to forget this. People may or may not be sleeping at the same time as yourself, respect their rest. Take your belongings out of your pack before you get into the room (plastic bags are particularly good at getting people pissed off when they are trying to sleep) sometimes packs are not allowed in the dorms. In the morning fold your blankets before leaving.
7) Do NOT go to the bathroom in the snow outside the hut, the snow is melted for water for cooking, so use the toilets.

French Huts
Country tel. code is +33

Albert 1er Hut alt. 2706 mEasy access from the Charamillon + Balme gondolas lacated in the village of Le Tour (about 50 FF round trip and worth it). Then take the summer walking path 1.5 hr / 500 m vertical.OR by the steeper path leading up the moraine from the Tour village3- 4 hr / 1300 m vertical.Starting point for many classic routes : Aig. Du Chardonnet, Aig. Du TourWarden from mid June through September.137 beds. Winter room holds 30.Tel. (0)450540620 CAF / French Alpine Club Hut

Argentière Hut alt. 2771 mAccess from the Grands Montets cable car located in Argentière (99 FF one way), then down the Rognon glacier and then traverse the Argentière glacier. Beware of crevasses and be sure to rope up and have crampons, ice axe, etc. 2 hr from the summit of the cable car.OR from the village of Argentière up the Pierre à Ric ski trail and then onto the moraine and finally the glacier 5-6 hr / 1350 m vertical.Starting point for the big north faces / La Verte, les Droites, les Courtes, Aig. D'Argentière. Also the first hut on the famous "Haute Route" ski tour.Warden from mid February - mid May & mid June - September.150 beds. Winter room has gas, cooking supplies and blankets, holds 68.Tel . (0)450531692 CAF / French Alpine Club Hut

Conscrits Hut Alt. 2580 m
From the village of Les Contamines Motjoie, follow the trail to the Tré la Tête hotel and then onto the Tré la Tête glacier. Just before reaching the seracs, look up left onto a rock wall where a good path is hidden. This trail leads directly to the Conscits hut 5-6 hr from Les Contamines / 1100 m vertical. Equipment for glacier travel is needed.Starting point for les Dômes de Miage, traverse of the Aig. De Bionnassay, Aig. Des Glaciers, etc. Good ski touring in the spring. Plentiful fauna and flora along the way to the hut. Showers at the hut.Warden from end of March - mid May & mid June - September.84 beds. Winter room holds 10.Tel. (0)479890903 CAF / French Alpine Club Hut

Couvercle Hut Alt. 2687 m
Acess from the Montenvers train which can be taken just outside the town center of Chamonix. Go down the well trodden path to the Mer de Glace glacier (equipment for glacier travel needed) and follow a faint path sometimes marked with cairns across the glacier towards the Leschaux glacier. Just before reaching this junction, look left up on the rock walls for a white paint spot and a series of steep ladders which lead to a good path high above the glacier 3-4 hr from the train / 700 m vertical.Starting point for the Aig. Du Moine, La Verte, les Courtes. Superb views of the North Face of the Grands Jorasses. Good rock climbing behind the hut.Warden from mid May - Septmeber.151 beds. Winter hut holds 22 and usually has gas, pots, blankets.Tel. (0)450531694 CAF / French Alpine Club Hut

Durier Hut Alt. 3358 m
Access to this hut is difficult and usually by way of the Miage chalets which are reached on the way to Les Contamines - Montjoie. From these chalets, follow the good path up to Plan Glacier and then up a very steep ridge (climbing gear needed) to the hut 9 hr from the parking lot / 1900 m vertical. It is usual to traverse across the Dômes de Miage to reach the hut 5 hr. From the Conscrits hut. The hut warden is Gilbert, a friend of mine.Starting point for the classic traverse across the Aig. De Bionnassay.Warden from mid June - September.24 beds.Tel. (0)409424974 CAF / French Alpine Club HutEnvers des Aiguilles Hut Alt. 2523 mAccess to this hut is the same as the Couvercle hut to start (ie the Montenvers train). Once on the Mer de Glace glacier, stay to the right hand side and look for yellow trail markers and a yellow paint spot on the rock wall above the glacier which in turn leads to a series of ladders and iron rungs and finally to a well marked path 2-3 hr from the Montenvers / 700 m vertical.Starting point for many modern rock climbs on the back of the Chamonix Aiguilles.Warden from mid June - September.68 beds. Winter room holds 12.Tel. (0)450531603 CAF / French Alpine Club Hut

Grands Mulets Hut Alt. 3051 mAccess is from the Plan de l'Aiguille cable car and across the very dangerous Junction of the Bossons and Taconnaz glaciers (equipment for glacier travel) 4-5 hr from the Plan station / 600 m vertical.Starting point for Mont Blanc (mainly used only during the spring for a ski ascent).NOT RECOMMENDED to follow this route up to Mont Blanc due to the numerous ice falls and tragedies over the past few years.Warden from the end of March - September.68 beds.Tel. (0)450531698 CAF / French Alpine Club Hut

Gouter Hut Alt. 3817 mThe "normal route" to Mont Blanc usually starts here. Access involves taking the TMB train to the Nid d'Aigle station (2400 m) and following the well trodden path up to the snowfield next to the Tête Rousse hut. From here one goes up the steep slope leading to the evident gully coming down from the Gouter ridge. This gully must be crossed as quickly as possible (watch for frequent stone fall) and then up onto the spur leading to the Gouter hut which involves some easy 3rd class scrambling 5-6 hr from the train station / 1400 m vertical.Warden from mid June - September.108 beds.Tel. (0)450544093 CAF / French Alpine Club Hut

Leschaux Hut Alt. 2431 mAccess from the Montenvers train station and follow the Mer de Glace to the junction of the Leschaux glacier. Look for the small hut along the left hand side of the glacier 3-4 hr from the Montenvers train station / 500 m vertical.The starting point for all the big climbs on the North Face of the Grandes Jorasses.Warden from June - September.13 beds.Tel. (0)450531603 CAF / French Alpine Club Hut

Cosmiques Hut Alt. 3613 m
Access from the Aiguille du Midi cable car, descend the ridge and go towards the Col du Midi, about 20 - 25 min. walk / 50 m vertical.The starting point for Mont Blanc by the three Mont Blanc route as well as numerous climbs surrounding the Mont Blanc du Tacul area.Warden from mid February - October.140 beds. Winter hut (Abri Simond is located about 200 m from the Cosmiques hut) holds 20 and is only open when the Cosmiques is closed.Tel. (0)450544016 Privately owned and operated.

Swiss Huts
Country tel. code is +41.

Trient Hut Alt. 3170 m Accessed in the summer by the taking the Breya chair lift located in Champex. From the chair lift follow the good path towards the Col de la Breya and finally to the Orny glacier, past the Orny hut and up the snow field (beware of crevasses) to the Col d'Orny where the hut is located north up off the glacier on rock 3 - 3.5 hr from the chairlift / 1000 m vertical.Starting point for the Aiguille du Tour, Aiguilles Dorées.ALSO - hut on the famous Haute Route / Chamonix - Zermatt ski tour which is accessed by way of the three cols.Warden from mid March - May and mid June - September.130 beds.Tel. (0)27 783 1438 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Orny Cabin Alt. 2811 m Same access as the Trient, only shorter ! Starting point for man moderate climbing routes found behind the hut - Aiguille de la Cabane, Aig. D'Orny, le Portalet.Warden from mid June - September.90 beds.Tel. (0)27 783 1887 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Mont Fort Cabin Alt. 2485 m
Accessed by taking the Attelas cable car in the fine ski resort of Verbier, 30 min.
Hut on the Haute Route. Very friendly folks and great food. A must stop when skiing in Verbier ! Warden all winter and mid June - October.80 beds.Tel. (0)27 778 1384 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Bertol Cabin Alt. 3311 m
Accessed by coming up out of the village of Arolla heading South towards the Arolla glacier and then due East up to the Plan Bertol, a long walk 5 - 6hr / 1300 m vertical. Can be dangerous after a snow fall.Can be used as a hut on the Haute Route, offers exceptional views !Warden from mid March - May and mid June - September.80 beds.Tel. (0)27 283 1929 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Dix Cabin Alt. 2928 m
Accessed by taking the Fontanettes drag lift out of Arolla and then head due West towards the Pas de Chevre (2855 m). Go down the ladders to the Cheilon glacier and crossing this towards the large outcropping of rock on which the hut is located, 2 hr / 500 m vertical.A busy hut during the ski touring season located on the Haute Route. Starting point for many other day ski tours - Mt. Blanc de Cheilon, Pigne d'Arolla, la Luette.Warden from mid March - May and mid June - September.150 beds.Tel. (0)27 281 1523 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Hornlï Hut Alt. 3260 m
Accessed by taking the Schwarzee cable car out of Zermatt. From the end of the cable car, follow the good foot path to the hut, 1.5 hr / 650 m vertical.
Starting point for the famous Hornli ridge on the Matterhorn.Superb views of the of course the Matterhorn as well as the surrounding peaks of Zermatt including Monte Rose, Breithorn, Castor, Rimpfischorn, etc.Warden from mid June - September.50 beds. Winter room holds 20.Tel. (0)27 967 2769 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Monte Rosa Hut Alt. 2795 m
Accessed by taking the Gornergrat cog railway and then following the well marked path down to the Gorner glacier, cross this towards the island of rocks lying Southeast and up a short steep path to the hut, 2.5 - 3 hr / 300 m vertical.Starting point for the famed Monte Rosa, highest mountain in Switzerland.Warden from mid March - May and mid June - September.80 beds.Tel. (0)27 967 1215 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Schönbiel Hut Alt. 2694 m
Accessed by following the good trail out of Zermatt towards the quaint village of Zmutt and continuing on towards the Zmutt glacier staying to the right above the moraine, 4 - 5 hr from Zermatt / 1400 m vertical.Starting point for Pointe de Zinal, Tete de Vallpeline, Dent d'Herens, can also be used as a stop on the Haute Route.Warden from mid March - May and mid June - September.80 beds.Tel.(0)27 967 1354 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Vignettes Hut Alt. 3160 m
Accessed by taking the Fontannettes drag lift out of Arolla and heading due south up the Piece glacier towards the Pointe des Vignettes where the hut is located, 3.5 - 4.5 hr from the drag lift / 900 m vertical.Starting point for the Pigne d'Arolla, l'Eveque, Mont Collon and also a stop along the Haute Route.Warden from mid March - May and mid June - September.Tel. (0)27 283 1322 CAS / Swiss Alpine Club Hut

Italian Huts
Country tel. code is 44

Boccalatte Hut Alt. 2804 m Starting point for the south face of the Grandes Jorasses(not recommended). 30 beds.Tel. (0)165 844070 CAI Italian Alpine Club Hut

Gonella Hut Alt. 3071 m Starting point for Mont Blanc, Aiguilles Grises route,  Italian side.67 beds. Winter hut holds 25.Tel. (0)165 885 101 CAI Italian Alpine Club HutMonzino Hut Alt. 2590 m
Starting point for big climbs on the Italian side of Mont Blanc - Innominata, Brouillard.104 beds. Winter room holds 8.Tel. (0)165 809 553 CAI Italian Alpine Club Hut

Torino Hut Alt. 3371 m
Starting point for the Dent du Geant, Tour Ronde, Grand Capucin.215 beds. Winter hut holds 50.Tel. (0)165 844 034 CAI Italian Alpine Club Hut