The best hikes in Valgrisenche

The narrowest and wildest of the Aosta valleys, Valgrisenche is the land of drap wool and deep silence: Lake Beauregard, the Bezzi and Chalet de l’Epée refuges, the Grande Sassière and Rutor glaciers.

This guide gathers the best trails in the area, all from the Sentieri VdA catalogue: for each one you get the CAI difficulty, distance, elevation gain and a direct link to the route page with map, elevation profile, photos and the day’s weather.

Every itinerary below uses real data from the Aosta Valley trail registry — waymark numbers, distances and elevation gain — and links to the full page with satellite map, GPX track, elevation profile and the nearest town’s weather. Always check conditions before setting off: at altitude the weather changes fast and some passes stay snow-covered into early summer.

Selected trails

Tour du Rutor — Stage 4: Valgrisenche → Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise

23.1 km · +1138 m · EE — from Valgrisenche to Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise.

From Valgrisenche climb past the Beauregard reservoir to the Col du Mont (2,639 m), a pass of shepherds, smugglers and soldiers between Italy and France. The long descent on the French side drops through the Mercuel valley to Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise (1,051 m); just north, the alp-village of Le Monal is worth the detour.

High Route 2 — Stage 5: Planaval → Rifugio Chalet de l'Épée

12 km · +915 m · E — from Planaval to Rifugio Chalet de l'Épée.

Follow Valgrisenche valley floor via La Frassy and Gerbelle before the final climb to Chalet de l'Épée hut.

High Route 2 — Stage 6: Rifugio Chalet de l'Épée → Rhêmes-Notre-Dame

10 km · +475 m · E — from Rifugio Chalet de l'Épée to Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.

Brief climb to Col Fenêtre (2840 m) and descent through pastures and woods to the Park visitor centre at Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.

Tour du Rutor — Stage 3: Planaval → Valgrisenche

5.7 km · +162 m · E — from Planaval to Valgrisenche.

A short valley stage: from Planaval ascend the Valgrisenche between woods, meadows and stone villages to the head village (1,664 m), home of drap, the loom-woven wool cloth. Time to visit the village and the Beauregard dam.

Mondanges - Col de Feleumaz

9.2 km · +1353 m · E — from Mondanges to Col de Feleumaz.

Mondanges - Col de Feleumaz is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S5). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche. From Mondanges (1652 m) to Col de Feleumaz (3024 m): 9.2 km with +1353 m of elevation change, difficulty E (CAI scale).

Col Bassac Déré

10.9 km · +1302 m · E — from Surrier to Col Bassac Déré.

Col Bassac Déré is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S36). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche. From Surrier (1785 m) to Col Bassac Déré (3096 m): 10.9 km with +1302 m of elevation change, difficulty E (CAI scale).

La Béthaz - Rifugio degli Angeli al Morion

7.6 km · +1281 m · E — from La Béthaz to Rifugio degli Angeli al Morion.

La Béthaz - Rifugio degli Angeli al Morion is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S35). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche. From La Béthaz (1656 m) to Rifugio degli Angeli al Morion (2913 m): 7.6 km with +1281 m of elevation change, difficulty E (CAI scale).

Menthieu - Ricovero Capitano Ricci - Lago San Grato

7.6 km · +1124 m · E — from Menthieu to Lago San Grato.

Menthieu - Ricovero Capitano Ricci - Lago San Grato is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S30). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche. From Menthieu (1864 m) to Lago San Grato (2454 m): 7.6 km with +1124 m of elevation change, difficulty E (CAI scale).

Surrier , bivio poderali - Bivacco Ravelli

6.3 km · +1091 m · E — from Surrier, bivio poderali to Bivacco Ravelli.

Surrier , bivio poderali - Bivacco Ravelli is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S15). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche. From Surrier, bivio poderali (1785 m) to Bivacco Ravelli (2850 m): 6.3 km with +1091 m of elevation change, difficulty E (CAI scale).

Menthieu, partenza poderale - Rifugio degli Angeli al Morion

5.5 km · +1059 m · E — from Menthieu, partenza poderale to Rifugio degli Angeli al Morion.

Menthieu, partenza poderale - Rifugio degli Angeli al Morion is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S33). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche.

Rifugio Bezzi - Col Bassac

4.5 km · +877 m · E — from Rifugio Bezzi to Col Bassac.

Rifugio Bezzi - Col Bassac is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S19). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche. From Rifugio Bezzi (2298 m) to Col Bassac (3164 m): 4.5 km with +877 m of elevation change, difficulty E (CAI scale).

Bivio strada per Grand Alpe - Col du Mont

5 km · +706 m · E — from Bivio strada per Grand Alpe to Col du Mont.

Bivio strada per Grand Alpe - Col du Mont is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S26). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche. From Bivio strada per Grand Alpe (1933 m) to Col du Mont (2635 m): 5 km with +706 m of elevation change, difficulty E (CAI scale).

Balconata dal Belvedere al lago di San Grato

4.9 km · +705 m · E — from Bois de Grillet to Lago di San Grato.

Balconata dal Belvedere al lago di San Grato is an official trail from the Aosta Valley trail registry (code 68_S37). The route lies in the municipality of Valtournenche, in the Valtournenche. From Bois de Grillet (1974 m) to Lago di San Grato (2465 m): 4.9 km with +705 m of elevation change, difficulty E (CAI scale).

Explore the full catalogue on the Trails page and plan your next hike in the Aosta Valley.

Cover photo: Giovanni-P · CC BY-SA 3.0