Blanchard - Colle Superiore Cime Bianche

From the village of Blanchard (1731 m) the trail climbs toward the Colle Superiore delle Cime Bianche (2985 m), one of the most panoramic passes in the Valdostan Alps, on the ridge separating Val d'Ayas from Valtournenche. At 8.5 km and 1256 m of elevation gain, the route is long and demands fitness, though the E rating indicates no technical difficulty. The path passes through hamlets above Blanchard, then climbs into the Cime Bianche valley, a high-mountain environment where pale rock — giving the area its name — and high-altitude pastures dominate. The area is a Natura 2000 site. Near the pass, the panorama opens across Gran Paradiso, Monte Rosa, Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. Season: July–September.