Alpine Passes Trail

La Fouly, a small chalet village, lies surrounded by mighty peaks amidst an Alpine landscape and unspoilt nature. Traditional Alpine farming and cheese-making are still vital to the local economy. The famous Eringer fighting cows can be seen on the pastures everywhere in the valley.

At the beginning of this relatively short stage, you can make out the last remnants of the Glacier de l'A Neuve on the left side of the valley. Below the peaks of Mont Dolent and Tour Noir, you get an idea of how far the glacier reached only a few decades ago. The path leads out of the village past traditional Valais chalets.

After crossing the river Dranse de Ferret, a scenic path leads to the Torrent de Treutsebo. The water falls over several cascades in the steep, rocky terrain. Gravel roads and paths alternate downhill, as do shady forest sections and sometimes slightly exposed areas along rock faces. On the right side, views of the riverbed of the Dranse de Ferret open up.

Suddenly, the path branches off to the right. The Crête de Saleinaz, an imposing lateral moraine almost entirely covered with conifers, forces the river to bend, also leading the hikers a short distance to the east.

Next, you pass the two little villages of Praz-de-Fort and Issert. Only at 1,000 metres above sea level does the route start to climb again towards Champex-Lac. The trail leads through a beautiful forest with enjoyable paths to the stage's destination at Lac de Champex. The small Valais holiday village with traditional chalets, an idyllic mountain lake and sweeping views of the mighty Grand Combin lies in a quiet high valley above Martigny.