Sentier de Salanfe
Overview
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Distance 13 km
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Duration 4 h 25 min
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Ascent 720 m
Intro
Leading up from the valley of «Vallon de Van» to the Lac de Salanfe at the foot of the Dents du Midi, this hiking trail passes through a wild Alpine landscape to an abandoned gold mine.
Description
The Lac de Salanfe is a high-altitude reservoir (1,909m above sea level) with a wonderful view and a fascinating history. The hike starts at the end of the public road in the idyllic Vallon de Van with a steep ascent through the valley to the Salanfe dam. Surrounded by the beautiful peaks of the Dents du Midi and the impressive summit of the Tour Sallière, the reservoir is used to store glacier water.
The hiking trail runs around the lake, surrounded by a beautiful mountain landscape full of fascinating flora and fauna. The surreal-looking rock formations are just as impressive as the river delta at the end of the dam, which is dominated by the «Glacier Noir» (Black Glacier). The hiking trail passes through the quiet, peaceful landscape of a region visited by many gold miners in the early 20th century. Today, visitors can still see the remains of an old canteen that served 40 workers at the time. Between 1904 and 1907, 23.8 kg of gold were mined here, while another 30 kg were extracted in the 1920s.
In the area of «Revers des Ottans» there’s a possibility to climb up to a former mine on a theme trail, where gold and arsenic used to be mined (extension of the hike of approx. 1 hour). The old mine is abandoned today and not open to visitors because it is unsecured and dangerous. Close to the entrance, however, an old rail wagon that transported rocks from the mine can still be visited. The rocks were then smashed and the extracted minerals were carried down into the valley by donkeys. From the area of «Revers des Ottans», the hiking trail leads around the lake and completes the loop before returning to the Vallon de Van down below.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Van d’en Haut
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Van d’en Haut
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| Direction |
Round trip
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| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
1900 m
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| Ascent |
720 m
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| Descent |
720 m
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| Distance |
13 km
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| Duration |
4 h 25 min
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| Duration back |
4 h 25 min
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Season |
June - October
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| Theme |
With panoramic view, Along Water
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| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
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Quick Facts
Route number
