Lodge de la Sage - Bella Tola Hut

de fr

Long climb up the Col de Torrent before reaching Lac de Moiry, then Saint-Luc by bus, Tignousa by funicular railway and finally Bella Tola on foot.
Remember to adjust the distance using the information provided by the points (6) and (7): you need to subtract 10 km.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Trek from Fionay to Saas-Fee

Details

n°110943
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.05 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 10h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,770 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,523 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 9,501 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,427 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Lake Autannes
Col de Torrent

Description of the walk

(S) Leave from the Sage lodge and begin the long climb up the asphalt road to Prés de Villaz.

(1) Return to solid ground to begin the long switchbacks in the Cotter mountain pasture.

(2) Continue the ascent, which ends at the Col de Torrent (2,916 m).

(3) Begin the long descent to Lac de Moiry.

(4) Pass by the large Lac des Autannes (where you can stop for a break) and continue through the Torrent mountain pasture, taking the forest road to the Moiry dam.

(5) Then take the bus towards Grimentz, Vissoie and then Saint-Luc.

(6) In Saint-Luc, take the Tignousa funicular railway and get off at the upper station.

(7) Follow the well-marked trail (signposted) to the Bella Tola hut (E), your destination for the day.

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 5,427 ft - Lodge de le Sage
  2. 1 : mi 0.95 - alt. 6,017 ft - Near Villaz
  3. 2 : mi 3.09 - alt. 8,494 ft - Alpage du Cotter
  4. 3 : mi 3.86 - alt. 9,501 ft - Col de Torrent
  5. 4 : mi 4.59 - alt. 8,822 ft - Lac des Autannes
  6. 5 : mi 5.44 - alt. 8,153 ft - Torrent mountain pasture
  7. 6 : mi 7.08 - alt. 7,359 ft - Moiry Dam
  8. 7 : mi 13.59 - alt. 7,136 ft - Tignousa
  9. E : mi 14.05 - alt. 7,677 ft - Bella Tola hut

Notes

The water is in the torrents and must be purified.
There is no shelter, but Lac des Autannes is a good place for a long break.
Food and drink available at Lac de Moiry.
Please note that you must adhere to the timetable here as the buses do not wait and you must be in Saint-Luc before the last funicular shuttle departs.

Worth a visit

The Matterhorn: it is right in front of us and the moment of relaxation to admire it from the terrace of the Bella Tola hut is one of the highlights of this crossing.

Reviews and comments

Other walks in the area

Walking La Sage - Grimentz

Visorando Member
La Sage - Grimentz
↔10.59 mi ↗+4,331 ft ↘-4,593 ft ◔8h 40 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Evolène (Valais)
This tenth stage takes place once again in the high mountains and, depending on the season, may involve crossing snowfields. This day is spent in the company of peaks over 4,000 metres high.From La Sage or Villa, there are two passes that allow you to cross from the Val d'Hérens to the Val d'Anniviers: the Col de Torrent and the Col du Tsaté. Closer to the high peaks and glaciers, we will opt for the Col du Tsaté. From La Sage, follow the signs for Moteau and Le Tsaté (an old abandoned hamlet). The trail continues to a cattle farm (Remointse du Tsaté), then to the small Lac du Tsaté. From there, the Col du Tsaté is visible on the Val d'Anniviers side, and the path joins the Lac de Moiry to the dam. At the foot of this structure, a well-marked trail leads to Grimentz.

Walking Cabane Moiry - Cabane des Becs de Bosson

Visorando Member
Cabane Moiry - Cabane des Becs de Bosson
↔9.96 mi ↗+3,425 ft ↘-2,927 ft ◔7h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Grimentz (Valais)
For this fifth stage, you will leave the Moiry hut and the snow-capped peaks for another hut in a very different world. You will once again follow the Lac de Moiry, but on its other shore. You will cross large grassy expanses to the Alpage de Torrent. From this mountain pasture to the Pas de la Lona, you will follow part of the famous Verbier-Grimentz mountain bike trail. The final climb will take you to the foot of the Becs de Bosson for a night at almost 3,000 metres.

Walking Barage de Moiry - Cabane des Becs de Bosson

Visorando Member
↔6.73 mi ↗+3,363 ft ↘-994 ft ◔6h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Grimentz (Valais)
Beautiful hike along a long alpine path, then a steeper trail at the end. At the hut, there is a route equipped with chains, and the one I took, which is less steep. Spectacular view from the hut, very warm welcome, and very comfortable for spending the night. Multiple options for returning to different valleys.

Walking Cabane des Becs de Bosson - Grimentz

Visorando Member
Cabane des Becs de Bosson - Grimentz
↔5.27 mi ↗+469 ft ↘-5,033 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Martin (Canton du Valais) (Valais)
This sixth stage will take you to Grimentz, a beautiful village typical of the Val d'Anniviers. From the Col des Becs de Bosson, the route is all downhill. For the more experienced, it is possible to climb the Petit Bec de Bosson. For this climb: at the pass, the route is marked by a white-blue-white sign. The final section is rated T4 to T5. Not for inexperienced climbers.

Walking Arolla - La Sage

Visorando Member
Arolla - La Sage
↔6.76 mi ↗+1,644 ft ↘-2,762 ft ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Evolène (Valais)
This ninth stage is more relaxing than the previous ones. Many hikers skip this section by taking a bus transfer from Arolla to La Sage or Villa. Although short and easy, this stage really has its place in the route. The trail passes by Lac Bleu and crosses the beautiful hamlet of La Gouille, typical of the Val d'Hérens, then the villages of Les Haudères and La Sage. From La Gouille to Les Haudères, the trail follows the "La Borgne d'Arolla" torrent. In the centre of Les Haudères, a sign indicates the path that climbs up to the village of La Sage.

Walking Arolla - Prarayer Refuge

Visorando Member
Arolla - Refuge de Prarayer
↔10.43 mi ↗+3,970 ft ↘-3,871 ft ◔10 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Evolène (Valais)
Today's high mountain stage requires the use of crampons to cross the Arolla glacier. This long stage requires an early start.

Walking Zinal - Cabane de Moiry

Visorando Member
Zinal - Cabane de Moiry
↔7.69 mi ↗+6,066 ft ↘-2,306 ft ◔8h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Ayer (Valais)
The Val d'Anniviers ends at the Zinal Glacier and the Moiry Glacier, separated by the Pigne de la Lé and the Garda Bordon. The route of this fourth stage will take you to the Cabane de Moiry, very close to the glacier of the same name. To avoid the long climb to Sorebois, take the cable car to the Weisshorn area. You will switch to the Moiry side and overlook this magnificent lake at an average altitude of 2,500 metres. Upon arrival at the Cabane de Moiry, you will be richly rewarded.

Walking Zinal - Arolla

Visorando Member
Zinal - Arolla
↔16.23 mi ↗+7,106 ft ↘-5,955 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Ayer (Valais)
This is a long stage passing through two mountain passes, but it is shortened by the cable car connection from Zinal and the bus transfer between Villa Evolène and Arolla. Please note: taking into account the cable car transport, the positive elevation gain is not 2,156 metres as indicated, but only 1,380 metres.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.