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Emosson - Trophy of the Dams aperto

The road to the dam is composed of two mountain passes, the Col de la Forclaz and the Col de la Gueulaz, culminating at 1528m and 1965m respectively. The dam region is made famous by dinosaur tracks imprinted into some of the local rocks. The road to the dam had the great honour of hosting a stage finish of the Tour de France on 20 July 2016!

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The city of Martigny is the starting point of this long climb of 30 kilometres that will surprise you with its incredibly diverse landscape. You start the day criss-crossing the vineyards before reaching the summit of the Col de la Forclaz in the middle of a larch forest. After a short descent through the town of Trient, you take a right turn off the main road to begin the second climb towards the dam. The ascent takes you through scenery worthy of the great Alpine passes. Feel free to refuel at Finhaut before the final climb to Emosson dam…it’s a tough one.

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As you pedal through beautifully terraced vineyards, you realize how quickly you are gaining altitude as Martigny becomes smaller and smaller. You leave the grand view of the Rhone Valley once through the Col de la Forclaz (1,528m). Take time to stop and enjoy a delicious fruit tart at the Hotel du Col de la Forclaz, because you still have a long journey ahead. After this well-deserved break, you dive into another valley and pass the village of Trient. A turn off to the right takes you into Finhaut and the start of the second climb. The more you climb, the more the landscape becomes wild and magical. The dam only lets itself be seen at the last moment, once you have reached the summit of the Col de la Guelaz (1,965m). And once there, all of your efforts will be rewarded, as the view over the Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles du Tour is breath-taking. This impressive dam was built between 1969 and 1975, is the second largest dam in Switzerland and the third highest in Valais. When you are on top of the dam in spring, look deep down into the lake and you may see the remains of the Barberine Dam, built in 1925, which was submerged after the Emosson Dam was filled.

Start: Route de la Forclaz, 1921 Martigny (501 m)
Destination: Emosson Dam (1932 m)

Author's recommendation

In autumn, the leaves on the larch trees turn magnificent shades of orange, blueberry leaves turn red, and the landscape becomes worthy of the finest Indian summers! Emotions guaranteed! It is absolutely spectacular!

Technical information

  • Altitude

    1966 m 502 m

  • Ascent

    1932 m

  • Descent

    500 m

  • Technique

    Bewertung: 4 .0 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Stamina

    Bewertung: 6 .0 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Expérience

    Bewertung: 6 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Landscape

    Bewertung: 6 .0 von 5.0 Punkten

Best time of year

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
  • Linear route
  • Scenic
  • Geological highlights
  • Fauna
  • Insider tip
  • Refreshment stops available
  • Cultural/historical interest
  • Flora

Public transport

Arrive in Martigny by train from all Swiss towns and cities (SBB) or by the regional trains Railway Mont-Blanc & St-Bernard Express.

Approach

Take the A9 Motorway exit E27 autoroute Martigny/Grand St. Bernard. At the roundabout, follow signs towards Col de la Forclaz / Chamonix (France)

Parking

Follow the car-park routeing in Martigny.

Equipment

We recommend: bike in excellent working order, helmet, gloves and bell, clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof), food and drink.

Safety information

Strictly respect the Swiss traffic rules. Please note that you are running the tour at your own risk and all liability is refused. Please be considerate to plants and animals. For your own safety, wear an helmet every time you ride a bike. Emergency numbers: 144 Ambulance / 117 Police / 1414 Helicopter Rescue (Rega).

Mappe

SwissTopo Maps 1:25'000: 1325 Sembrancher / 1324 Barberine