Lac de Salanfe walks

From the hamlet of Les Granges to Van d’en Bas, you’ll make your way up through the Dailley Gorges via daring structures, footbridges, tunnels and vertiginous staircases. The Salanfe river cascades down the steep gorges in a series of terraces. The view is breathtaking. You’ll enjoy numerous vantage points overlooking the Alpine peaks.You’ll cross the magnificent Vallon de Van. In the evening in Salanfe, you’ll already be able to admire the Dents du Midi standing out against the backdrop of the lake

During this stage of the Tour des Dents du Midi, at the Col du Jorat you will enjoy a panoramic view to the south of the peaks on the border with Italy. You will probably recognise the Matterhorn. You will also have a bird's eye view of the Lac de Salanfe, with the Dôme de la Sallière in the background. To the north, the Rhône valley awaits you. In the small village of Mex, nestled on a plateau, several viewpoints offer views of the villages in the valley, all the way to Lake Geneva.

The Salanfe valley allows you to immerse yourself in the heart of the Dents du Midi massif. Whilst the ascent to Lac de Salanfe is a walk accessible to all, its extension to the Col de Susanfe is more alpine in character but well-marked and signposted, offering more sweeping views. The suggested descent, which is less frequented but ultimately easier, offers a variety of views over the Salanfe Lake basin as it winds its way round it.

A big day with spectacular scenery. The Pas d'Encel pass is a little tricky to navigate to reach the foot of Mont Ruan. Reach Haute Cime, the highest point of the Dents du Midi at 3,257 metres, via the Col de Susanfe, then descend to the Auberge de Salanfe on the edge of the lake.

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 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.

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.

Le Sex des Granges (2,082 m) is the first peak on the ridges surrounding Lake Salanfe. This circular walk takes you along the ridges, offering superb views, as well as a stroll along the lakeshore.

Straddling the Franco-Swiss border, the Dents Blanches, Dents du Midi, Tenneverge, Mont Ruan and Aiguilles Rouges. An area strongly shaped by the folding of the Alps, with surprising landscapes ranging from lunar deserts to high-altitude lakes, waterfalls and forgotten mountain pastures. A wild and unspoilt nature that only hikers can discover. Alpine valleys, often isolated by "pas", technical and cabled paths opening the doors to this universe of raw and grandiose nature...

This final stage will take you back to Les Marécottes station, very close to the starting point in Salvan. The Salanfe glacier cirque is located at the crossroads of numerous hiking trails. You will finish your tour via the Col de la Golette, which is not very busy. The passage is quite narrow and the start of the descent is equipped with chains. At the pass, you can enjoy one last view of the Dents du Midi and Lake Salanfe. To the east, you can enjoy the panorama of the Valais Alps.

Starting in Salvan and finishing in Les Marécottes (VS, Switzerland), this hike is almost circular. The route combines several circuits. In the Val de Trient, you’ll discover the Dailley Gorges and the Vallon de Van.You will complete the entire Tour des Dents du Midi and enjoy this magnificent mountain range as well as the Sauflaz Gorges.You’ll make a short detour onto the Tour des Dents Blanches, which you can admire from the Barme plateau.

Less frequented than the Haute Cime opposite, the Luisin is a superb viewpoint and a lovely hiking destination in a high mountain setting. This long and demanding hike undoubtedly offers the easiest route to this beautiful summit. N.B. The elevation gain shown is overestimated: allow for around 1,400 m.