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Espace
Rebelle
Walks and ascents
Excursions around Bionaz
Scenic trails,
historical mountain pastures and
high altitude peaks
Discovering Bionaz and its valleys means immersing yourself in an authentic environment, where nature, history, and mountain traditions intertwine at every step. From the shortest and most scenic trails, perfect for a relaxing walk after or before meals, to the most challenging hikes leading to refuges, mountain pastures, and high-altitude peaks, each route offers a different face of this unique territory.
Whether you’re looking for a simple breath of fresh air, spectacular scenery, or a true Alpine adventure, these itineraries will take you on a journey of evocative views, ancient traces of rural life, and up-close encounters with mountain wildlife.
10 min | 50 m. D+
Path
Rebelle
A small “digestive” (after lunch) or “aperitif” (before lunch) walk that takes you to the “Le Crite” promontory in front of the restaurant, very panoramic and evocative. You can notice the old shelves where Daniele’s grandparents grew potatoes, and at the top of the promontory there is still a plinth of a cableway pylon used in the 1960s to haul concrete from Aosta to Place Moulin for the construction of the Dam.
30 min | 100 m. D+
Overview
of Bionaz
This route is very simple as it takes place entirely on the farm road that leads to the Grand Rond mountain pasture passing through Pessey.
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It is scenic and the comfortable road allows even the less experienced and children to travel it without problems. Once you reach the Grand Rond mountain pasture you are very likely to spot the marmot families.
2 h 15 min | 700 m. D+
Refuge
Crête Sèche
2.410 m.s.l.m.
Following trail no. 4, you can reach the refuge along the path that, in its first stretch, retraces the entire farm road leading to the Grand Rond mountain pasture. The walk becomes a little steeper just above the mountain pasture for about 100 m of altitude difference and then again 100 metres before reaching the Refuge.
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Just before reaching the Berrier mountain pasture you can see the sources of the Bionaz aqueduct and later, a little higher up, the characteristic “Berrio de la Bosse” where a spring flows directly from a hole in the rock.
2 h | 500 m. D+
Alpe la Tsa
2.225 m.s.l.m.
Visiting this small valley will feel like you are entering a Dolomite environment for a moment, as this valley is dominated by the Tour de la Tsa, a characteristic tower different in color and structure, from the mountains that surround it.
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If you’re lucky, you’ll find cows grazing and you can take a look at the mountain pasture, which has recently been reached by a monorail. There is no shortage of marmots on the plateau above the mountain pasture called “Plan Marmottin”.
The trail is marked with trail marker no. 5 and during the descent you can walk along the farm road that leads from the Tsa Lon mountain pasture to Chez-Chenoux.
6 h | 1.720 m. D+
Cervo
mountain
3.441 m.s.l.m.
It is an easy-access and very scenic mountain, characterized by its easy and truly unique final ridge. An almost lunar landscape is created on it, giving this otherwise banal ridge a unique and fascinating appearance.
It was first climbed by Louis Kurz, Henry Riekel, Joseph, and Justin Bessard on August 14, 1892.
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From Alpe Rebelle, follow path no. 4 which leads to the Berrier Alpine pasture, then continue along the path that leads to the ruins of the Chardoney Alpine pasture in the Vertzan comb. Here the marked path ends and continues through the middle of the valley until you reach the trail that leads to the slope below the Chardoney Glacier, climbing the first stretch on the right bank of the stream and then crossing it approximately halfway down the slope.
Once you reach the glacier, the terrain becomes gentler and you follow the glacier along the slopes of Mount Cervo to reach a snow gully (in warmer summers it can be snow-free) located halfway along the characteristic snow saddle that separates the Noeud de la Rayette from Mount Cervo.
Once you reach the top of the saddle, continue on the easy ridge that soon leads to the top. The descent takes place along the way of ascent.
4 h | 1.340 m. D+
The Tour de la Tsa
3.058 m.s.l.m.
Having reached Alpe de la Tsa along path no. 5, continue towards the Luseney mountain pasture, the remains of which and the beautiful spring that flows behind it can be seen. Afterwards we continue into the beautiful alpine meadows following some cairns that lead to the base of the wall. To reach the summit at this point you will have to go around them on the left and reach the obvious hill along a short stretch of scree, then continue for 15 minutes on the easy ridge (dorsal) to the summit.