Sentiero attrezzato Grande Chenalette

Overview

This route, while not demanding advanced technique, offers an authentic alpine experience in a severe and grand setting. The Great St Bernard Pass, with its austere climate, provides the backdrop for an easy-access via ferrata, ideal for a first taste of this type of progression. For fit hikers seeking a challenge, the route can be extended into a demanding loop that, from the summit of Gran Chenalette, continues along the ridge toward Monte Dronaz and Mont Fourchon, adding length and exposure.

Approach

Access is from the Swiss side of the Great St Bernard Pass. After leaving your car near the ancient hospice, begin climbing behind the building, skirting the lake. Take a paved road toward the kennel, which soon becomes a trail. The route unfolds across grassy and morainic slopes, with a steady pace and moderate gradients. You quickly reach the remains of an old dismantled chairlift, where the bases of the pylons and the top station, the Belvedere, are still visible. From here, following white waymarks, head west toward a rocky bastion, then bear right onto grassy slopes. A short stretch of easy rock leads to a gentler terrace, offering views of two lakes and introducing the valley of the Gran Chenalette. Now proceed on white-and-red markers, staying on the left side of the valley. The terrain becomes more mineral, with the trail crossing a rocky section before reaching the Belvedere (2,650 m), the former top station of the lift. Passing it to the north, follow a track over scree (marked "Ferret" in red) to an ascending traverse where the actual via ferrata begins (2,780 m). The approach from the parking lot takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes and gradually prepares you for the high-altitude environment.

Via Ferrata

The start of the via ferrata begins with a comfortable ledge equipped with steps, a horizontal section that lets you get your bearings. The route develops mostly on solid, schistose rock, winding along ledges and sloping slabs. You then reach a dihedral, easily overcome thanks to cables and metal rungs. Immediately after, you encounter the first ladder, quite low-angle, followed shortly by a second. The pace is pleasantly broken by these short, secure vertical passages, interspersed with trail sections. Continue on a track that climbs over some boulders to a third ladder. This leads to a sloping slab, equipped with chains, which, turning left, brings you near the summit of Gran Chenalette (2,900 m). The final stretch is particularly panoramic, exposed on both sides. The summit position rewards you with a breathtaking 360-degree panorama. The via ferrata is short and not very technical, with a more hiking than mountaineering character. The climbing time is about 1 hour, for a total of 2 hours and 30 minutes from the parking lot.

Descent

The return follows the same route as the ascent, requiring care on the equipped sections and scree slopes. The total time for the excursion, including descent, is about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Useful Notes

The harsh climate typical of the Great St Bernard Pass area demands careful preparation and attention to weather conditions, with gear suitable for possible sudden changes. In early summer, the section between the Belvedere and the start of the via ferrata may be affected by snow patches, requiring caution and on-site assessment. The equipped section presents no significant technical difficulties and can serve as an excellent introduction to the world of via ferratas for hikers already experienced in the mountains. For those wishing to extend the outing, from the summit it is possible to continue toward Monte Dronaz (or Monte Drone) by crossing a rocky slab equipped to the northeast, then descending on another via ferrata and closing the loop back to the pass. This option requires greater endurance and familiarity with exposure. An even longer and more demanding option, reserved for experts on exposed terrain, involves continuing along the ridge to Mont Fourchon. Nearby, descending toward Aosta, you'll also find the Ferrata delle Crete Sech, a rather long route that is difficult to combine in a single day with the Sentiero Attrezzato della Gran Chenalette.