Hikes

Chemin d'Ossona

Vernamiège

6/16°

This path through the pristine nature of the lower Val d’Hérens leads from Les Prixes to La Luette via the hamlet of Ossona and its famous footbridge.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Length

7.71 km

Duration

2:30 h

Description

The jewel of the municipality of Saint-Martin is the Ossona plateau, which was abandoned several decades ago but has been given a new lease of life thanks to a complete restoration. The path from Les Prixes to La Luette takes you through the agritourism hamlet of Ossona and then across the suspension footbridge of the same name. The hamlet is situated at the heart of an extensive network of footpaths, and now offers a wide range of outdoor activities including archery, observing wild flora and fauna, meeting farm animals, walks along theme trails and rock climbing. To make the most of this enchanting landscape, you can stay in one of the restored houses, which feature all modern comforts.

Turn-by-turn directions

From Les Prixes, situated below the village of Vernamiège, follow a path winding through forests and pastures to La Marguéronne and then Le Grand Sevanne before reaching the agritourism hamlet of Ossona. After you have crossed the Ossona suspension footbridge, continue along the slopes high above the river La Borgne until you reach a path equipped with safety chains, which leads you to a small waterfall. Finally, cross the bridge over La Borgne to reach the village of La Luette on the other side, at precisely 1,000 metres above sea level.

Start

Les Prixes (Vernamiège) (1167m)

Destination

La Luette (996m)

Download GPX

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Author's recommendation

Stop for a bite at the Ossona “auberge”, open from mid-April to the end of October, and enjoy some of the delicious farm produce on offer.

Technical information

Altitude

1168m

923m

Ascent

+335m

Descent

-505m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

From Geneva or Brig, take a train to Sion station, then change onto a PostBus for Vernamiège.

Approach

Take the A9 motorway towards Sion and leave at exit 27 (Sion-Est). Drive through the village of Bramois, follow the road towards Nax and take the turning for Vernamiège.

Parking

Large parking area on the Route Bellevue to the north-west of the village of Vernamiège.

Equipment

We recommend:

good footwear
clothing suitable for the weather: always carry a waterproof jacket
hat or cap
sunscreen
bottle for water
picnic
camera
binoculars (optional)
hiking poles (optional)
printout of this hike (click «Print» icon, to download)

For certain walks:

Swimwear

Safety information

Use of the trails and the information on this website is at hikers’ own risk. Local conditions may entail changes to routes. Valais/Wallis Promotion accepts no liability for the accuracy and completeness of information on this website.

For all hikes:

Bring a map. Download full description of this route including large-scale map by clicking on «Print» icon, top right of this page.
Use marked trails only, and observe all signposting – for your own safety, to safeguard grazing animals and to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Close gates after passing through.
Please be considerate to other trail users, and to the plants and animals.
Do not leave any waste in nature.

For mountain hikes:

Take extra care protecting yourself from the sun at altitude. UV radiation can be exceptionally strong, even in cloudy weather.
Plan hike carefully: take into consideration fitness level of each participant, weather forecast and season.
Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains, without warning. Appropriate clothing is therefore essential, along with adequate supplies of food and water. In uncertain weather, turn back in good time.

For high-altitude hikes:

Inform others of the route you plan to take. Whenever possible, avoid going alone.
Do not venture onto glaciers without a mountain guide.
Take note of the warning signs that point out the constant danger in river beds and along watercourses below dams and reservoirs: water levels may rise rapidly without warning.

Additional information

View this tour on SwitzerlandMobility:

N°215 Chemin d'Ossona

More information about the destination:

Literature

The tourist office in Nax provides you with hiking brochures of the region.

Maps

SwissTopoMaps 1:25'000: 1306 Sion

Source

This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion