Trail running

Via Valais Verbier - Cabane d’Essertze (Stage 1)

Die flache Strecke entlang der Suone von Chervé bietet eine gute Möglichkeit, um das Tempo zu beschleunigen.

Verbier

-3/1°

The first stage of the Via Valais starts above Verbier, where fairly steep slopes mingle with flatter sections before reaching the Essertze hut.

Difficulty

Difficult

Length

29.65 km

Duration

5:40 h

Überqueren Sie den Col de Louvie und blicken Sie auf den Lac de Louvie, das Val de Bagnes und das Combins-Massiv.

Description

With a little over 1,100 metres of difference in altitude, this first 29 kilometer leg links Verbier to the Essertze hut. Start off along the calm water of the Bisse du Levron for several kilometres, before setting off on beautiful climbs. The route takes you to the Col Termin and, higher up, the Col de Louvie, offering impressive views of the Val de Bagnes and the Combins range. The path then descends towards the Grand Désert lake, allowing you to walk through a landscape dotted with rocks and home to many ibex. Return to flat ground along the Bisse de Chervé, which leads you to the Mont-Rouge overlooking the Cleuson dam. After a last descent, you’ll arrive at the Essertze hut, managed by Hérémencia ski club volunteers. The wide variety of terrain offered by this initial leg is a perfect preview of the diversity and quality of the entire route.

Turn-by-turn directions

The start of the itinerary is at the top of the Ruinettes cable car coming from Verbier. Start by following the Bisse du Levron until the Col Termin. The path then climbs towards the Col de Louvie, then goes down to the Lac du Grand Désert through a lunar landscape composed mainly of rocks. Follow the old Bisse de Chervé overlooking the Cleuson dam heading for Mont-Rouge via Combatseline, before starting your final descent to the Essertze hut.

Bisse de Levron - Col Termin - Col de Louvie - Lac du Grand Désert - Ancien Bisse de Chervé - Combatseline - Mont-Rouge - Cabane d'Essertze

Start

Les Ruinettes (Verbier) (2193m)

Destination

Cabane d’Essertze (2196m)

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Author's recommendation

Be sure to carry enough food for the day. The only stop on the route is at Combatseline not far before reaching Cabane d’Essertze.

Technical information

Altitude

2921m

2168m

Ascent

+1183m

Descent

-1179m

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

Take the train to Martigny station, then to Le Châble. Take a first gondola lift between Le Châble and Verbier, then a second one from Verbier to Les Ruinettes in order to get to the start of the trail.