Belvédère via ferrata

Nax
-1/5°
The Nax/Mont-Noble via ferrata in the Val d'Hérens is considered to be one of the least difficult climbs of this kind in the region, and will give you a fantastic view over the Rhône valley.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
1.69 kmDuration
2:00 hDescription
Starting in woodland at an altitude of 1000m, the route ascends 220 metres and takes approximately 1½ hours to complete, ending in the village of Nax/Mont-Noble. The starting-point is easily reached via a footpath from the village.
Turn-by-turn directions
From the hairpin bend, a path into the forest leads you to the foot of the cliff and the start of the via ferrata. The first section is the most demanding: this takes you straight up a few dozen vertical metres to a level where the trees no longer conceal the view of the valley. Next comes a traverse across the rocks without climbing, followed by two rope bridges. You then scale a rock face and climb along the north-west ridge as far as the final exit at an altitude of 1,220 m. After the exit, continue walking uphill along a little track as far as the lookout (Belvédère) for a breathtaking and totally unobstructed view of the whole Rhône valley. To return to the starting point, either directly take the little trail in the forest on the western side of the footbridge, or follow the track near the campsite a little further on. If you are travelling onward by public transport, the best option is to walk up to the village of Nax, served by regional buses.
Start
Switchback beyond Rochers de Nax (990m)
Destination
Switchback beyond Rochers de Nax (1011m)
Author's recommendation
Can you make out the sleeping giant? See if you can discover the origins of the name of the village of Nax, which some claim derives from the word “nose” (nasus in Latin). This nose forms part of the silhouette of a face in the rock – which you can see in the photo gallery.
Technical information
Altitude
1229m
977m
Ascent
+269m
Descent
-255m
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Approach
Parking
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion