Alta Via n° 2

The nature trail: alpine trekking to discover flora and fauna

Alta Via Trail 2, known as the nature Trail, is a trekking trail of exceptional natural interest. A large part of its route passes through the Gran Paradiso National Park and the Mont Avic Regional Park.

This route passes through wild areas of magnificent landscapes where numerous examples of alpine flora and fauna are to be found, including some of the rarest species, as well as through village areas where it is possible to explore the ancient origins of Aosta Valley traditions and crafts. Crossing the mountains to the right of the River Dora Baltea, Alta Via Trail 2 is accessible to everyone since it follows well-marked footpaths, with an average width of around 80 cm., and is entirely sign-posted. The trekker who is used to mountain walking will be able to walk along its whole length, while those who are looking forward to trying footpath walking for the first time will also be able to follow some of the short, lower altitude stretches.

The route leads from Courmayeur to Donnas, with 14 daily stages which require 3-5 hours walking time each, offering various stopping points: camping sites, huts, refuges, hotels and hostels. The routes descend into the valley at the end of almost every stage, where it is possible to use the services provided by each of the villages or interrupt your journey and return to the central valley by bus. The route can be walked in the summer months and crosses medium and high altitude mountain areas, through meadows, pasturelands, woodlands and rocky outcrops, maintaining an average altitude of around 2,000 m. and sometimes reaching 3,000 m. (on Col Loson it reaches almost 3.300 m.!!).

Here, where nature still remains intact, it is possible to admire the chamois on the run or the elegant golden eagle in flight, or to find yourself surrounded by a herd of male ibex who gather in the final hours of daylight to graze in the valley grasslands below the moraines and the eternal snows. The ideal period to admire the flora is the month of July, when the mountain flowers are at their peak of beauty. Here in the mountains, the small patches of brilliantly coloured flowers, which at lower altitudes become lost among the luxuriant vegetation, assume a particular importance: they symbolise the triumph of life over the harshness of the environment.

stage 1 stage 2 stage 3 stage 4 stage 5 stage 6 stage 7 stage 8 stage 9 stage 10 stage 11 stage 12 stage 13 stage 14

 
Click on the stage number to go to the relevant info. file
 Stop off  Altitude   Time A-B   Time B-A
Information Point Bank Restaurant Ski lifts Post and Telegraph Camping Pharmacy Physician Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
1 Courmayeur 1.223 0:15 0:15
Information Point Bank Restaurant Ski lifts Post and Telegraph Camping Pharmacy Physician Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
Dolonne 1.210 2:20 1:30
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed
Maison Vielle mountain hut 1.956 3:25 3:15
Restaurant Ski lifts Telephone or emergency call Bed
Elisabetta Soldini mountain hut 2.168
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
      6:00   5:00  
2 Elisabetta Soldini mountain hut 2.168 4:50 5:40
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
La Thuile 1.435
Information Point Bank Restaurant Ski lifts Post and Telegraph Camping Pharmacy Physician Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
      4:50   5:40  
3 La Thuile 1.435 4:05 2:55
Information Point Bank Restaurant Ski lifts Post and Telegraph Camping Pharmacy Physician Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
Alberto Deffeyes mountain hut 2.500
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
      4:05   2:55  
4 Alberto Deffeyes mountain hut 2.500 2:35 3:05
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
Bivouac Cosimo Zappelli 2.275 4:40 5:20
Bed
Planaval (Arvier) 1.554
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
      7:15   8:25  
5 Planaval (Arvier) 1.554 1:45 1:35
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
Valgrisenche 1.664 2:45 1:55
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
Chalet de l'Epée mountain hut 2.370
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
      4:30   3:30  
6 Chalet de l'Épée mountain hut 2.370 3:30 4:25
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
Rhêmes-Notre-Dame 1.722
Information Point Restaurant Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
      3:30   4:25  
7 Rhêmes-Notre-Dame 1.722 1:15 0:50
Information Point Restaurant Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
Entrelor 2.140 5:25 5:45
Restaurant Bed
Eaux-Rousses (Valsavarenche) 1.658
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed
      6:40   6:35  
8 Eaux-Rousses (Valsavarenche) 1.658 6:50 5:50
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed
Vittorio Sella mountain hut 2.584
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
      6:50   5:50  
9 Vittorio Sella mountain hut 2.584 1:45 2:45
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
Valnontey 1.667 0:40 0:50
Restaurant Camping Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed
Cogne 1.540
Information Point Bank Restaurant Ski lifts Post and Telegraph Camping Pharmacy Physician Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
      2:25   3:35  
10 Cogne 1.540 1:00 0:50
Information Point Bank Restaurant Ski lifts Post and Telegraph Camping Pharmacy Physician Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
Lillaz 1.611 3:55 2:50
Restaurant Camping Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed
Sogno di Berdzé mountain hut 2.530
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
The Sogno di Berdzé mountain hut has temporarily ceased its activity. It is necessary to continue to the Misérin mountain hut.       4:55   3:40  
11 Sogno di Berdzé mountain hut 2.530 1:30 1:25
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
Misérin mountain hut 2.588 1:00 1:25
Restaurant Bed
Dondena mountain hut 2.192
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
The Sogno di Berdzé mountain hut has temporarily ceased its activity. It is necessary to continue to the Misérin mountain hut.       2:30   2:50  
12 Dondena mountain hut 2.192 1:40 2:30
Restaurant Telephone or emergency call Bed
Chardonney 1.444 0:20 0:20
Restaurant Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed
Champorcher 1.422
Information Point Restaurant Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
Alternative route - From the Dondena mountain hut, after the pasture of Champlong, leave the Alta Via path and turn right on the path 7B. After a few turns, cross the torrent and continue along the royal road to reach the original path of the Alta Via, just before reaching Champorcher.       2:00   2:50  
13 Champorcher 1.422 6:55 7:15
Information Point Restaurant Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
Crest 1.170
Restaurant Bed
      6:55   7:15  
14 Crest 1.170 1:10 0:45
Restaurant Bed
Retempio sanctuary 1.460 5:35 6:50
Bed Church
Donnas 330
Bank Restaurant Post and Telegraph Pharmacy Physician Grocery Telephone or emergency call Bus Bed Church
      6:45   7:35  
Stop off 1 Stop off 2 Stop off 3 Stop off 4 Stop off 5 Stop off 6 Stop off 7 Stop off 8 Stop off 9 Stop off 10 Stop off 11 Stop off 12 Stop off 13 Stop off 14
Meteo
Meteo

Details
Aosta
°C
°C
Tourist Areas
Tourist Areas

Mont Blanc

Gran Paradiso

Great Saint Bernard

Aosta and surroundings

Matterhorn

Monte Rosa

Central Valley

Alta Via Trail 2
Alta Via Trail 2