Winter hikes

N. 12 - La Fouly-Prayon

Les forêts et prairies enneigées au pied du Dolent

La Fouly

9/13°

In the heart of the Val Ferret, this route links La Fouly to the small hamlet of Branche d’en Haut.  

Difficulty

Intermediate

Length

5.98 km

Duration

1:45 h
Les forêts et prairies enneigées au pied du Dolent
Le hameau de l'Amônaz au pied du Dolent

Description

From La Fouly, you’ll bypass the pretty little hamlets typical of the Val Ferret, through forests and across pastures in a magnificent mountain setting in which you’ll spot the Dalle de l’Amône, well-known to climbers. On the way back south, where the borders between France, Italy and Switzerland converge and the Mont Dolent, which is on the border between France, Italy and Switzerland, the majestic Mont Dolent becomes visible in the background.

 

Halfway along the route, you’ll reach the hamlet of Prayon. Once here, you have a choice: taking a break at the Dolent café/restaurant, then returning along the same path; or at the junction, remaining on the mountain side of the cantonal road, or getting the bus back from Prayon.

Turn-by-turn directions

From the centre of La Fouly, take the road north to the Grand Hôtel du Val Ferret. Just after the big car park, continue west along the road that descends to the edge of the water catchment and north to the right and through the forest. Opposite a chalet on the northern edge of the forest, turn east, climb up to the cantonal road and cross it carefully. From there, continue through meadows, over two rivers and through the middle of the chalets at La Seilo.

 

Now walk to the cantonal road and over the bridge, and then immediately east and north-east through the scattered chalets of Prayon, and continue downhill to the north-west, where you reach the cantonal road, the bus stop and the Café-Restaurant de Prayon.

 

The first part of the way back is via the same route. After crossing the bridge and the two rivers again, the trail branches off slightly uphill to the south and leads through the forest to the village entrance of La Fouly. Follow the main road to the centre of the resort.

Start

Bus stop La Fouly (1601m)

Destination

Bus stop La Fouly (1595m)

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Author's recommendation

La Fouly and the various hamlets along the way were originally pastures with small chalets (“mayens” in French), used during the spring and autumn for livestock grazing.

 

Technical information

Altitude

1602m

1460m

Ascent

+142m

Descent

-142m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Tags

  • Scenic
  • Out and back
  • Refreshment stops available
  • Groomed snow
Getting there
Information

Public transport

Take the train from Martigny to Sembrancher, and then to Orsières. From there, take the bus to La Fouly. Check the timetables here: www.cff.ch.

 

 

Approach

Take the 22-Gd-St-Bernard motorway exit in Martigny. Stay on the right, on the E27 to Chamonix/Gd-St-Bernard/Verbier/Martigny-Expo. After the tunnel which bypasses Martigny, follow the signs for Grand-Saint-Bernard/Italy. Turn off the main road in Orsières and follow the signs to La Fouly/Val Ferret.

 

 

Parking

There is a large, free car park on the way into La Fouly.

 

Equipment

We recommend: 

• good footwear

• clothing suitable for the weather: always carry a waterproof jacket

• hat or cap

• sunscreen

• bottle for water, picnic

• camera

• hikingpoles (optional)

• printout of this hike (click “Print” icon, top right, to download) 

Safety information

Use of the trails and the information on this website is at hikers’ own risk. Local conditions may entail changes to routes. The Pays du St-Bernard accepts no liability for the accuracy and completeness of information on this website.

• 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.

• Please be considerate to other trail users, and to the plants and animals. Do not leaveanywaste in nature.

• 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 uncertainweather, turn back in good time.

• Do not venture onto glaciers without a mountain guide.

• Take note of the warning signs that point out the constant danger, especially the danger of avalanches.

• Inform others of planned route, and whenever possible, avoid going alone.   

 

Additional information

View this tour on SwitzerlandMobility: n°920 Chemin La Fouly–Prayon: https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/winterwandern/wege/route-0920.html 

More information about the destination Pays du St-Bernard: www.saint-bernard.ch  

Literature

Topographic map 1:25'000 

Maps

Topographic map 282S Martigny  

Source

This activity is brought to you by Pays du St-Bernard. Valais/Wallis Promotion is not responsible for the content provided.

View of the Cervo hotel with the Matterhorn in the background, Zermatt. Valais, Switzerland.

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