Via Farinetta
Saillon
-2/7°
The Via Farinetta leads you through the wild and mysterious Salentze Gorge, where the thermal water of the Saillon Thermal Baths comes from. The trail shows you the cultural and natural wealth of Saillon and Leytron.
Difficulty
DifficultLength
6.29 kmDuration
4:00 h
Description
The first valley via ferrata in Valais, this 330-metre, one-kilometre route is particularly demanding. It has increasingly levels of difficulty so is accessible to a wide public. It is divided into 3 parts:
- Part 1 is a climb through the Salentse gorges, graded K3-K4/C, which represents a fairly difficult level. - Part 2 is more aerial and physical, rated K4/C, which is a difficult level.
- The third section, rated extremely difficult (K5/D), requires advanced physical skills to overcome the overhangs and slopes that make it up.
Escape routes can be found at the end of each section.
Turn-by-turn directions
From the Saillon St-Laurent bus stop, head towards the Salentze bridge and walk upstream. If you are arriving by car, park at Place Farinet, then follow the white ‘Via Farinetta’ signs.
From Les Moulins, cross the wooden bridge, then take the path directly to your left along the river (not shown on our map). When the path through the forest reaches the road, continue to the left. You will come to a fork in the road where there is a sign for ‘Grottes des géants’. From here, take the path along the river to the bridge, and cross it. Climb the ladder and the few natural steps to the start of the Via Ferrata.
The via ferrata is annually closed between the start of December to the end of March.
Start
Thermal baths in Saillon (467m)
Destination
Thermal baths in Saillon (467m)
Author's recommendation
The Via Farinetta offers pleasant temperatures in summer, thanks to the coolness of the gorges.
Technical information
Altitude
817m
465m
Ascent
+400m
Descent
-353m
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Take the 311 postbus from Sion CFF or Martigny CFF or Riddes CFF to the Saillon St-Laurent stop.
Approach
Highway A9 to the exit 24 (Riddes), then follow the "Route de Riddes" to the village of Leytron and afterwards the "Route de Saillon" to the village of Saillon.
Parking
Parking is available in the free car park at Bains de Saillon or Place Farinet (ten minutes' walk from the Route de la Salentze). There are a few parking spaces on the Route de la Salentze. Parking is free and limited to five hours. Don't forget to put your parking disc on.
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion