Through the Les Follatères nature reserve to Fully

Fully
4/15°
A hike along the sunny and dry paths in the Follatères nature reserve: a piece of the Mediterranean in the heart of the Alps with magnificent views of the Rhône valley.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
7.75 kmDuration
2:00 hDescription
The Follatères nature reserve offers a glimpse into foreign worlds: hearing the sounds of cicadas and seeing plants typical of hot climates, one would think of the Mediterranean rather than the midst of the Alps.
The nature reserve lies at the Rhône knee near Martigny; the region is therefore influenced by the climate of Lake Geneva as well as the Valais Alps. The area has an exceptionally diverse geology: calcareous rocks and flysch of the pre-Alps meet crystalline granite and gneiss of the central Alps.
These conditions allow great biological diversity in the nature reserve, which extends over 5 square kilometers from the valley floor at 450 m above sea level up to 1800 m above sea level. A large part of the landscape is pristine and has been preserved from development due to its steepness.
The hike varies greatly depending on the season. In spring the paths are lined with flowers and the hiker is accompanied by songbirds. In summer the landscape turns golden and is filled with the chirping of cicadas. Autumn offers a true play of colors and with some luck you can observe birds of prey before their departure south.
The path crosses various habitats. From pine and oak forest over rocky grassland and dry meadows – all these landscapes provide a home for rich fauna.
Highlights of the route
- Nature reserve of national importance, regularly attracting scientists from around the world.
- Dry and sunny paths with over 200 plant species of southern or oriental origin.
Turn-by-turn directions
The hike begins with a mountain railway ride from Dorénaz to Champex d'Alesse. The path initially leads over a marshy plateau – watch out for orchids – before continuing over scree slopes, meadows, and through forests along the flank of Mont du Rosel. The closer you get to the "knee" of the valley, the drier the climate becomes. Here you are in the actual heart of the nature reserve.
The hike then makes a 90-degree turn like the Rhône below and continues northeast. Through the Forêt de la Lui forest, you reach the hamlet of Tassonières and at the end of the route you walk through the terraced vineyards descending into the village of Vers-l'Église.
Start
Dorénaz (mountain station of the gondola) (1125m)
Destination
Fully (village of Vers-l'Église) (459m)
Author's recommendation
Technical information
Altitude
1125m
459m
Ascent
+0m
Descent
-666m
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Approach
Access via the A9 motorway.
From the north/west: Exit 20 (St-Maurice), then head south via Evionnaz and Collonges to Dorénaz.
From the south/east: Exit 21 (Martigny-Fully). Follow the signs to Fully; just after the bridge over the Rhône, turn left towards Dorénaz.
Parking
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion







