Ponte Dora Baltea - Verthuy

Short but striking, this trail leaves from the Dora Baltea bridge at only 500 m — among the lowest starting points in the Aosta Valley trail network — and climbs steadily up the left bank of the Valtournenche to the hamlet of Verthuy at 1058 m. In 3.6 km the path moves from an almost Mediterranean landscape of vines and oak woodland to the terraced meadows above Châtillon. No technical difficulties, but the gradient is constant; in summer the valley-floor heat makes midday departures inadvisable.

Along the way — you move among vineyards, castles and the pastures of the Emilius massif. You walk among woods, rural villages and ancient rû, the valley’s historic irrigation channels. It calls for a fit hiker’s pace and proper footwear.