From the Grand St-Bernard Pass to Saint-Gingolph via the Alpine Passes Trail

This third section of the Chemin des cols Alpins offers magnificent panoramic views of the peaks of the Valais and French Alps. You’ll enjoy numerous panoramic viewpoints over the Combin Massif, the Mont Blanc Massif, Mont Ruan and the Dents du Midi Massif. You’ll stop off at several lakes: Lake Champex, Lake Emosson, Lake Taney and, finally, Lake Geneva.

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

1. S

   Grand Saint Bernard Pass – La Fouly

   9.95 mi 2,221 ft 5,013 ft

   This first stage will take you from the Grand Saint Bernard Pass to the village of La Fouly. Back in Switzerland, the route passes by the famous Hospice and then follows a fairly steep path up to the Pas des Chevaux. You’ll be able to admire the Combin massif. After a descent of around 400 metres, there is another climb up to the Col de Bastillon. This is the ideal spot to take a break and enjoy the panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses. The route continues downhill, passing by Lac de Fenêtre, then Plan de la Chaux, and finally following the Dranse de Ferret to La Fouly.

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2. 2

   La Fouly – Lake Champex-Lac

   9.08 mi 2,208 ft 2,585 ft

   This second stage will take you from La Fouly to Champex-Lac. The route follows the Val Ferret, passing through mountain pastures and forests. It passes through the small villages of Praz-de-Fort and Issert, situated on the Dranse de Ferret. After Issert, the route leaves the Dranse de Ferret, and the path climbs towards the beautiful village of Champex on the shores of its lake.

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3. 3

   Champex – Trient

   10.29 mi 2,844 ft 3,507 ft

   This third stage will take you from Champex-Lac to Trient. The start of the route passes through a beautiful forest before beginning to climb from Plan d’en Haut. The ascent becomes steeper after passing Durnand de la Jure, leading to Alpe de Bovine and then on to Col de Portalo or Porte à l’Ô. A good path descends towards Col de la Forclaz, then on to the village of Trient This stage is also part of the TMB ‘Tour du Mont Blanc’.

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4. 4

   Trient – Finhaut

   9.04 mi 3,875 ft 3,973 ft

   This fourth stage will take you from Trient to the village of Finhaut. The route begins with a challenging climb to the Pas des Moutons, which offers a view of the Trient Glacier. The ascent continues to the Alpe de Catogne, from where the Emosson Dam is clearly visible. A long descent leads to Le Chatelard. As there is no accommodation in Le Chatelard or at the Emosson Dam, the final section of the route leaves the Chemin des Cols Alpin to reach the village of Finhaut.

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5. 5

   Finhaut – Cabane du Vieux Emosson

   6.52 mi 4,045 ft 1,024 ft

   This fifth stage will take you from Finhaut to the Cabane du Vieux Emosson. From Finhaut, the route follows the small road to Giétroz to rejoin the Chemin des Cols Alpins. From Giétroz, a fairly steep climb leads to the Col de la Gueulaz. The route continues with a descent to the Emosson Dam, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the Mont Blanc massif. The stage ends at Vieux Emosson, following a geological trail in the footsteps of the dinosaurs.

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6. 6

   Vieux Emosson Hut – Auberge de Salanfe

   10.74 mi 4,872 ft 6,112 ft

   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.

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7. 7

   Auberge de Salanfe – Barme

   9.12 mi 4,206 ft 5,210 ft

   This seventh stage will take you from the Auberge de Salanfe to La Cantine de la Barmaz. The route begins with the ascent of the Col de Susanfe, which offers magnificent views of the Dents du Midi. A pleasant descent leads to the Cabane de Susanfe, which is the perfect spot for a break. The descent continues to the Pas d’Encel, a fairly steep section secured by chains and cables. The final stretch of the route passes by the Bonavau refuge before a final short climb and then the descent into the Barme valley. Please note that for the ascent to the Col de Susanfe between the points (3) and (4), a diversion via the Plan du Château is in place for an indefinite period.

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8. 8

   Barme – Morgins

   13.09 mi 2,825 ft 3,451 ft

   This eighth stage will take you from La Barmaz to the village of Morgins. The start of the route follows a ridge to the Col de Cou, which marks the border with France. After a descent into the Val d’Illiez, the route alternates between footpaths and tracks until it reaches the Col des Portes du Soleil. The route continues along the Vièze de Morgins to the village of Morgins

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9. 9

   Morgins – Torgon

   11.45 mi 3,068 ft 3,780 ft

   This ninth stage will take you from Morgins to Torgon. The start of the route climbs towards the Col des Portes du Culet, which offers a magnificent view of the Dents du Midi. The route continues towards Portes D’Onne and then on to the Tour de Don, where you can enjoy views of the Mont Blanc massif and Lake Geneva. A fairly steep ridge then leads to the Col de la Reculaz. Alpine pastures and forests alternate during the descent towards Torgon. At Les Fignards, you’ll cross a 150-metre-long footbridge , rising to a height of 28 metres above the Avançon torrent.

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10. 10

    Torgon – Taney

    6.05 mi 3,068 ft 1,982 ft

    This tenth stage will take you from Torgon to Lake Taney. The route begins with a fairly steep climb to La Caux, then becomes more pleasant as it reaches Le Planellet. Les Dents once again offer magnificent views. The route continues with a descent towards the Col de Blancsex, down to the Plan de l’Ortie. The path climbs back up towards La Charmille with a few tricky sections, but these are secured by chains. A final climb leads to the Col de Taney before reaching the lovely Lac de Taney.

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11. E

    Taney – Saint-Gingolph

    9.85 mi 2,352 ft 5,768 ft

    This eleventh stage will take you from Taney to Saint Gingolph. The route begins in the Loz valley at the foot of Mont Gardy and Les Jumelles, before climbing the final two passes, Lovenex and La Croix. The route continues along the River Morge, following the border with France. At Novel, the path turns towards Mont Cornin, passing through La Frîtaz and winding down towards Lake Geneva at Saint Gingolph.

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