Colle di Nanaz and Colle di Fontana Fredda

From the Aosta–Turin motorway (A5), take the Châtillon exit. Take the SR46 towards Valtournenche / Breuil Cervinia. Stop at the cable car car park in the hamlet of Buisson. Take the Buisson–Chamois cable car.
The start and finish of this hike are on the village square between the Buisson-Chamois cable car station and the town hall.

(S/E) From the town hall, take the Chamois–La Magdeleine track, cross the village and head towards the Torrente Chamois.

(1) Cross the stream and take the track on the left. Follow the stream upstream. Pass another bridge on your left, near the ruins of a mill. Cross the stream at the junction with the Piste de Forsus Cort. Continue uphill to the fork leading to the Foresus barn.

(2) Leave the Foresus track and note a sign just above the water collection hut. Heading south, follow the sign for Colle di Nannaz. Continue along a pleasant path, passing close to a shallow lake before reaching Alpe Cleva Bella.

(3) Stay on path No. 3A and begin the climb towards Colle di Nannaz. Make your way up in a series of terraces through magnificent scenery. As you go, admire the waterfalls that line this path. Turn round to take in the view of the Gran Paradiso massif. Continue the ascent until you reach the junction with the Alta Via No. 1.

(4) Follow the sign for Colle di Nannaz, turning right. Walk alongside a small lake before tackling this final stretch. As you approach the pass, the magnificent peaks between the Breithorn and the Liskamm gradually come into view.

(5) Take a break to enjoy the view. Return to the junction of the Alta Via No. 1 and Trail No. 3A

(4) Stay on the Alta Via No. 1 until you reach the junction with a path on the left.

(6) Leave the AV1 on your right, which leads to the Col des Fontaines, and turn left onto a path that is barely visible at first. After about a hundred metres, the path is clearly marked on the ground. Stay at a nearly constant altitude below the Falinère ridge, then above the lake of the same name, and descend towards Path No. 3B.

(7) Heading west, pass beneath the summit of La Falinère and reach the Santuario di Clavalité. Just before this sanctuary, to your surprise, the Matterhorn suddenly comes into view.

(8) Continue towards the clearly visible upper station of the chairlift (Falinère).

(9) With the Matterhorn still accompanying you along the way, carry on to Colle di Fontana Fredda.

(10) Begin the descent along a wide track leading to a small chalet just below the top station of the second section (Lago Lod – Teppa).

(11) Follow the track which descends directly to Lago Di Lod.

(12) Continue to the top station of the chairlift (Corgnolaz – Lago di Lod). Turn left onto the footpath and continue the descent until you reach a track at Assetaz.

(13) Cross the track and walk to the entrance to the village of Chamois.

(14) Walk down through the narrow streets of Chamois to reach the town hall square (A/D).

• Cable car car park at Buisson: €3 per day. (2023)
• Buisson-Chamois cable car: €5.50 (return) (2023)
• Hotel: Maison Cly

Hike undertaken by the author on 26 June 2023.

• Chamois.
• Col de Nannaz.
• Becca di Nannaz.
• Becca Trecaré.
• Petit and Grand Tournalin.
• Punta Falinère.
• Col des Fontaines.
• Cheneil.
• Colle di Fontana Fredda.