Hikes

Les cols du Grand-St-Bernard

La Fouly

-5/4°

Spectacular high-altitude hike straddling the Swiss/Italian border: three scenic cols, an idyllic cluster of alpine lakes and the Great St Bernard Pass with its ancient hospice and famous kennels.

Difficulty

Difficult

Length

11.74 km

Duration

4:55 h

Description

The Great St Bernard Pass has been an important alpine crossing since Roman times, a major link between northern and southern Europe. The historic pass road also gives access to thrilling hiking terrain.

This trail starting at the pass is a high-altitude loop featuring three climbs to mountain cols, each revealing different views. A little past midway round the loop, the Lacs de Fenêtre are three idyllic mountain lakes on a flower-filled plateau at about 2,500 m. The view of Mont Blanc and its neighbouring snow-capped peaks is sublime.

Hikers should allow time to explore the pass area and its historical hospice, founded in the 11th century to offer shelter to travellers and pilgrims. Highlights include a fine baroque church and its glittering treasury. A small museum explores the local fauna and flora, geology and climate, and traces the pass’s eventful history – including Napoleon’s crossing in 1800 with an army of 40,000.

Throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims crossed the pass on their way to Rome – following an itinerary first described by Sigeric the Serious, Archbishop of Canterbury, who passed this way at the end of the 10th century. Today, the Via Francigena once again offers hikers a historical trail all the way from Canterbury to Rome – which our alpine loop follows for its final climb up to the pass.

The stars of the hospice, however, are the St Bernard dogs, kept by monks here for centuries. Today, the breeding kennel is in Martigny, run by the Fondation Barry, but every year some of the dogs return to spend the summer up at the pass – now in new kennels, inaugurated in 2017. Visitors can accompany dogs on guided walks in the surrounding mountains.

Admission to the kennels and museum is free with the PASS Saint-Bernard – which also covers a wide variety of other attractions in the region plus public transport.

Highlights

Dramatic scenery – one pass, three cols, three mountain lakes, spectacular views
Historic hospice, church and museum
St Bernard dog kennels

Turn-by-turn directions

From the summit of the Great St Bernard Pass, follow the road for 100 m on the Swiss side before taking the path on the left to climb steadily up to the Col des Chevaux (2,714 m). The path drops down to the bottom of the valley beyond, the Combe de Drône, before beginning a second ascent to the Col du Bastillon (2,754m). On the far side, the trail descends to the shore of the first of the three Lacs de Fenêtre before threading a course between the second two. A third ascent leads up to the Fenêtre de Ferret (2,694 m), which marks the border between Switzerland and Italy. The path then zig-zags down to the pass road before taking a separate route up to the Swiss border, the pass and hospice – the fourth and final ascent of the hike.

Start

Great St Bernard Pass (2468m)

Destination

Great St Bernard Pass (2467m)

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Author's recommendation

The PASS Saint-Bernard includes admission to the kennels and museum at the hospice, along with public transport in the Pays du St-Bernard region.

Technical information

Altitude

2747m

2350m

Ascent

+1030m

Descent

-1030m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

Train to Martigny; change on to St-Bernard Express, direction Le Châble. Change platform at Sembrancher for train to Orsières. Change on to postal bus for Great St Bernard Pass.

Find full timetable information at sbb.ch.

Approach

A9 motorway, exit 22 (Gd St-Bernard). Follow signs for Grand St-Bernard all the way to the pass.

Parking

Parking available at the pass.

Equipment

We recommend:

good footwear
clothing suitable for the weather: always carry a waterproof jacket
hat or cap
sunscreen
bottle for water
picnic
camera
binoculars (optional)
hiking poles (optional)
printout of this hike (click “Print” icon, to download)

For certain walks:

Swimwear

Safety information

Use of the trails and the information on this website is at hikers’ own risk. Local conditions may entail changes to routes. Valais/Wallis Promotion accepts no liability for the accuracy and completeness of information on this website.

For all hikes:

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.
Close gates after passing through.
Please be considerate to other trail users, and to the plants and animals.
Do not leave any waste in nature.

For mountain hikes:

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 uncertain weather, turn back in good time.

For high-altitude hikes:

Inform others of the route you plan to take. Whenever possible, avoid going alone.
Do not venture onto glaciers without a mountain guide.
Take note of the warning signs that point out the constant danger in river beds and along watercourses below dams and reservoirs: water levels may rise rapidly without warning.

Additional information

View this tour on SwitzerlandMobility:

N°210 Les cols du Grand-St-Bernard

More information about the destination:

Pays du St-Bernard

Literature

The tourist office in Orsières has got brochures and information material about hiking in the region.

Maps

SwissTopo maps 1:25’000: 1365 Gd St-Bernard

Source

This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion

Other itineraries

21.41 km 4:38 h Medium

Trail running

Val Ferret from La Fouly