Along the Bisse du Trient

de fr

Starting from Col de la Forclaz (1527m), a short and easy out-and-back walk along the Bisse du Trient (irrigation channel) to the Chalet du Glacier (1583m), which offers a fine view of the Glacier du Trient and the Petite Pointe d'Orny (3187m).

⚠️ Part of the trail has been damaged by a landslide. Bypassing is possible, but the walk is not accessible for baby carriages and wheelchairs (see practical info).

Technical sheet

n°193351
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 358 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 363 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,610 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,514 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Wagonnet
Walk along the Bisse du Trient
Walk along the Bisse du Trient
Walk along the Bisse du Trient

Description of the walk

Start: From Col de la Forclaz (large car park).

(S/E) In the bend at the Col (pass), take the path heading south along the Bisse du Trient (signposted).

For the rest of the walk, follow this false-flat path as it rises along the Bisse. You will see a number of information panels explaining the origins of the trail in ice mining, as well as activity games provided by Charlotte la Marmotte.

(1) After about ten minutes, you'll come to a crossroad cont. Continue straight on towards the Glacier du Trient.

Gradually the panoramic view will include the Col de Balme to the south-west... then onto the Glacier du Trient and the Petite Pointe d'Orny. Continue straight on along the Bisse until you reach the Chalet du Glacier.

(2) For the return walk, take the same route down. Allow between 45 min and 1h to return to the Col de la Forclaz (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,532 m - Col de la Forclaz (Valais)
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 1,561 m - Intersection, continue straight on
  3. 2 : km 3.22 - alt. 1,600 m - Chalet du Glacier
  4. S/E : km 6.42 - alt. 1,532 m - Col de la Forclaz

Practical information

Start: From Col de la Forclaz (large car park).

Gears & Terrain : A family hike on a very easy terrain, sneakers/trainers may suffice in summer. However, as the trail is on a ledge, some passages can be vertiginous. Missteps are not recommended.

Refreshments:
On arrival, the Chalet du Glacier offers refreshments... in season!
(2) From the Chalet, you can get close to the glacier by following the path that heads East, then South-East towards Vésevey and Fenêtre d'Arpette. Be careful, it's uphill!

Note: Part of the trail has been damaged by a landslide. A few minutes after the start of the walk, you will come across repair works being carried out, clearly indicated by a sign. A bypass is possible, but not for baby carriages and wheelchairs .''

This is a temporary situation, but it is not yet known when the path will be fully restored to normal (01/10/2018). Please consult the website of the Trient locality on [https://www.trient.ch/.]

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Ricou31
Ricou31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A gentle ascent along the old wagon track that used to bring ice down into the valley, to the chalet and the blueberry tart. Fun and accessible for children.
Beautiful views and a footbridge leaning against the mountain that can be avoided by taking the path just above for those with vertigo.
Shady and definitely worth doing.

Automatically translated
Vis8374
Vis8374

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A pleasant, easily accessible walk, much of it shaded.

Automatically translated
fada0713
fada0713

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant and easy walk.
It was very hot that day and we enjoyed the coolness of "la Bisse".

Automatically translated
wake4cdr
wake4cdr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pretty route along the bisse, with the option of returning along the same path, going further up towards the glacier or returning via the village of Trient, which makes the tour a little longer and adds to the gradient.

Automatically translated
gondad
gondad

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Easy, fun hike for children, with fantastic views of the glacier and gorges.

Automatically translated
stephcarine74
stephcarine74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant walk, very easy and fun for young children (take care, as the side of the path can be steep).
At the end, you had a magnificent view of the Trient glacier and the surrounding peaks.
For your information, at the start of the path (where the landslide occurred), there is now a perfectly safe footbridge (which can be a little impressive for people prone to vertigo).
Enjoy the walk.

Automatically translated
osiris130
osiris130 ★

Hello Dut and thank you for this information.

I'm adding it to the description of the walk.

If you have any information about the reopening of the path, don't hesitate to let us know.

Have a nice day.

Automatically translated
dutsurleweb
dutsurleweb

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Repair work was underway a few weeks ago because part of the track had suffered a landslide. The work zone is just a few minutes from the start and is clearly indicated on the start sign. A bypass is possible, but in this case, impossible for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

This is a transitional situation, but the date of handover is not yet known.

Automatically translated
jpr1870
jpr1870

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We set off at 2.30pm from the Col de la Forclaz, so there were fewer tourists at the Chalet du Glacier. We climbed to an altitude of 1,700m, but the glacier is even higher! We had to turn back because the sky was becoming dangerously heavy.

Automatically translated
jlchassot65
jlchassot65

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk for all the family. Since the path collapsed at the start of the walk, wheelchair and rickshaw access is no longer possible (for the time being). There is a diversion through the forest.
Once you reach the refreshment station, it's a good idea to continue along the path (many don't) to get as close as possible to the glacier (well, what's left of it!) On a sunny day, stop for a picnic in the forest, as there's not much shade after that.

Automatically translated
sophiedu77
sophiedu77

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent walk, very easy as it is on a balcony. The colours are beautiful at the end of October.
Possibility of picnic at the refuge, even if it was closed, as there are tables and benches available. Magnificent view of the glacier.
I recommend taking the hike further to get closer to the glacier.

Automatically translated
dancingbrave
dancingbrave

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 28, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It was a superb, unexpectedly sunny day at the end of October. The colours were sparkling.
The walk is very easy indeed (family-friendly), but nonetheless offers an interesting way of getting close to the glacier.
The path is still very wide, so there's really nothing to worry about for those prone to vertigo.
A little anecdote: I hadn't realised that the start was in Switzerland, so after programming my destination on the GPS and leaving Chamonix, we were quite surprised to cross the border
. On the other hand, for us little Frenchies, what a pleasure it was to enjoy a nice hot Ovaltine at the glacier chalet.
Thank you for this wonderful hike.

Automatically translated
francounet
francounet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

An easy walk with no major changes in altitude.
Just a little snow at the end of the route.

Automatically translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Trient to Tré-le-Champ - Tour Monte Blanc

Association or club
↔13.75 km ↗+1,146 m ↘-1,034 m ◔7h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Valais
This 9th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) offers three options, the North-West one that climbs up almost to the summit of Carraye (t 2,132m) and drops down to Valorcine, the South-West past Col de Balme (at 2,191m) then drops to Le Tour or the middle option that goes over Col de Balme and Aiguilette des Posettes (at 2,210m) to drop down to Tré-le-Champ. Here's the description of the classic middle option. Let's do it! The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.

Walking Champex-Lac to Trient -Tour Mont Blanc

Association or club
↔14.43 km ↗+900 m ↘-1,055 m ◔6h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Orsières (Valais)
This 8th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) offers two options, the tough one via Fenetre D'Arpette and the somewhat easier option over Porte à l'Ô. Here's the second version, past Plan de L' au, over Alpage de Bovine and Porte à l'Ô, past the Col de la Forclaz to drop down to Trient. Let's do it! The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.

Walking Champex to Cabane d'Orny and return via La Breya summit and ski lift.

Walker
Champex to Cabane d'Orny and return via La Breya summit and ski lift.
↔12.64 km ↗+1,692 m ↘-1,001 m ◔8h 25 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Orsières (Valais)
A circular walk from Champex Lac; ascending the tranquil and beautiful Combe d'Orny and joining the path to the Cabane d'Orny where there are refreshments available. The descent is via the path back to the La Breya ski lift taking in an optional ascent of La Breya. (It is also possible to descend by foot via the Val d' Arpette or from the ski lift, similarly the walk can be shortened and height gain reduced by taking the ski lift up.)

Walking Champex to Cabane d'Orny via the Col de la Breya.

Walker
Champex to Cabane d'Orny via the Col de la Breya.
↔11.28 km ↗+1,679 m ↘-991 m ◔8h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Orsières (Valais)
A circular walk from Champex Lac; ascending via the Bisses to the Arpette valley and then taking the path uphill through forest to the Col de la Breya. Then descending and joining the path to the Cabane d'Orny (refreshments available). The descent is via the path back to the La Breya chair lift taking in an optional ascent of La Breya.

Walking Pointe d'Orny : out and return from the La Breya ski lift.

Walker
Pointe d'Orny : out and return from the La Breya ski lift.
↔13.44 km ↗+1,395 m ↘-1,391 m ◔7h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Orsières (Valais)
An ascent of an easy alpine peak starting from the La Breya ski lift and via the Orny and Trient mountain huts. Superb views over the Trient Plateau.

Walking Tré-le-Champ to Lac Blanc - Tour Mont Blanc

Association or club
↔4.40 km ↗+984 m ↘-19 m ◔4h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
This 10th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) normally runs along the high ground above the L'Arve valley to La Flègere but here's the description of the variant to Lac Blanc. A shorter stage but full of excitement and challenges. Let's do it! The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.

Walking Sentier du Bisse

Walker
Sentier du Bisse
↔4.10 km ↗+160 m ↘-159 m ◔1h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Orsières (Valais)
A short and easy walk from Champex Lac, taking the well signposted and good paths beside the Bisse. These are the water channels made to control and route the flow of water for irrigation purposes. The path returns to Champex via part of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) path.

Walking Le Belvedere

Walker
Le Belvedere
↔7.29 km ↗+643 m ↘-638 m ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Orsières (Valais)
This is a variation on the Sentier Le Belvedere walk which is described in the Pays du St-Bernard tourist booklet.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.