Vieux Emosson Hut – Auberge de Salanfe

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This sixth stage will take you from the Vieux Emosson hut to the Auberge de Salanfe. The start of the route follows the previous day’s path to the Emosson Dam and then on to the Col de la Gueulaz. After passing through the Gueulaz Tunnel, the path follows the lake before beginning the ascent to the Col de Barberine, from where you’ll enjoy a final bird’s-eye view of the lake. The route continues with a descent to the junction leading to the Emaney valley. You’ll need to put in another effort to reach the Col d’Emaney. A final descent will take you to Lac de Salanfe and then to the Auberge de Salanfe.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: From the Grand St-Bernard Pass to Saint-Gingolph via the Alpine Passes Trail

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.74 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 9h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,872 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 6,112 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,120 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,669 ft
  • ⚐ Country: Switzerland
  • ⚐
    Area: Alps
  • ⚐ City: Finhaut 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 46.0626° / E 6.89974°
  • ⚑
    End: N 46.14466° / E 6.97026°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3530ET, 3530ETR, 3630OT, 3630OTR
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Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 7,149 ft - Vieux Emosson Hut - Lac du Vieux Émosson
  2. 1 : mi 0.32 - alt. 7,162 ft - Hiker’s sign
  3. 2 : mi 0.75 - alt. 7,060 ft - Hiker’s sign
  4. 3 : mi 1.74 - alt. 6,378 ft - Hiker’s sign - Lac d'Émosson
  5. 4 : mi 2.4 - alt. 6,302 ft - Barrage d'Émosson
  6. 5 : mi 2.6 - alt. 6,437 ft - Sign No. 6 – Gueulaz Tunnel
  7. 6 : mi 3.29 - alt. 6,565 ft - Second tunnel
  8. 7 : mi 4.63 - alt. 6,440 ft - Towards the Col de Barberine
  9. 8 : mi 6.16 - alt. 8,120 ft - Col de Braberine
  10. 9 : mi 7.25 - alt. 6,578 ft - Signpost No. 6 – Turn-off towards Emaney
  11. 10 : mi 8.38 - alt. 7,264 ft - Sign No. 6 - Col d'Émaney
  12. 11 : mi 9.59 - alt. 5,807 ft - Crossroads - Lac de Salanfe
  13. 12 : mi 10.26 - alt. 5,764 ft - Barrage de Salanfe
  14. E : mi 10.74 - alt. 5,909 ft - Auberge de Salanfe

Notes

This hiking route follows the Chemin des cols alpins, which is marked on Swiss maps.

Signposting: at every major junction, you will find signposts:
- Sign No. 6 with a No. 6 sticker indicating this trail.
- R sign: Yellow sign with a hiker pictogram

Before setting off, it is advisable to check the Suisse Topo website for any trail closures and diversions. This information is updated in real time.

As well as the Visorando app, you can also download the swisstopo app ( free of charge), where you’ll find this information too.

Transport: Timetables

Weather: before setting off, check the Swiss Weather Service or Météo Blue

Hiking kit, including good walking boots.

Accommodation:

Other walks in the area

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Pass through the listed site of dinosaur footprints, then climb up to Cheval Blanc and reach the summit of Buet via the ridges. A difficult alpine route classified as T4 with breathtaking views of the Aiguilles Rouges.

Walking Cabane du Vieux Emosson - Couteray

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Cabane du Vieux Emosson - Couteray
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This route begins with a detour off the beaten track, suggested to us by the refuge warden, to reach the Col de la Terrasse. An alpine route with the Emosson dam in the background and a chance to discover the lakes at the Col du Corbeaux. After a long descent at the foot of Mont Buet in the Tré les Eaux valley, cross a long ledge equipped with cables and ladders to finally reach the Chalets des Granges and arrive at the Couteray car park.

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↔9.63 mi ↗+4,587 ft ↘-4,583 ft ◔8h 25 ▲Difficult
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A truly beautiful walk along the French-Swiss border, set in magnificent scenery, between large lakes and mountains, with varied landscapes along the route. The presence of fossilised dinosaur footprints along the path adds an extra element of interest to this walk. Finally, a sublime 360° view, including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and the Grand Combin, awaits us at the summit of the Cheval Blanc.

Walking Emosson Dam - Auberge de Salanfe

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↔8.25 mi ↗+4,167 ft ↘-4,711 ft ◔7h 25 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
For this first stage, after skirting Lake Emosson opposite the Mont Ruan massif, the Col de Barberine and Col d'Emaney passes will take you to the shores of Lake Salanfe. You will appreciate the contrast between the Ruan massif and the Dents du Midi massif.

Walking Loop between the lakes of Emosson and Salanfe.

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Boucle entre les lacs d'Emosson et de Salanfe.
↔17.42 mi ↗+9,701 ft ↘-9,688 ft ◔2 days ▲Difficult
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Lac de Salanfe is located in a large cirque, which is most easily accessed from the east via the Vallon de Van d'En Haut. From the Emosson dam, two passes offer access to this magnificent lake. In a high mountain setting, you can admire the Ruan massif to the south-west and the Dents du Midi massif to the north-west. During these two days, you will cross the Barberine, Emaney and Fenestral passes.

Walking The Emosson lakes in the footsteps of the dinosaurs

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↔14.03 mi ↗+5,886 ft ↘-5,869 ft ◔12 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
A superb circular French-Swiss for experienced walkers.The beauty of the landscapes in absolute silence will make you forget everything.Add to that a leap back in time several million years and you'll feel like you're walking on air. ⚠️ 16/12/2025: closure of a section of the Barberine forest (between (S/E) and (1)). See decree. Detour possible.

Walking Circular walk via La Barberine and the Diligence Trail

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Boucle par la Barberine et le sentier des Diligences
↔4.35 mi ↗+915 ft ↘-886 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
Starting from Vallorcine station, this short circular walk takes you past a recently renovated chapel, the Barberine waterfall and then the museum, before returning via the picturesque stagecoach track.

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