Moderate
Valais/Wallis · Switzerland
- Distance
- 1.6 km / 1.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 347 m
- Typical duration
- 51 min
- Waymarked route
Tour du Grand Chavalard
HardValais/Wallis · Switzerland
- Distance
- 12.4 km (7.7 mi)
- Elevation gain
- 985 m (3,232 ft)
- Typical time
- 4 hr 3 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Route type
- Loop
- Highest point
- 2,438 m (7,999 ft)
About Tour du Grand Chavalard
Tour du Grand Chavalard is a 12.4 km hiking route in Valais/Wallis, Switzerland. It climbs roughly 985 m (3,232 ft) along the way, topping out at 2,438 m (7,999 ft). Most people take around 4 hr 3 min at a comfortable pace, plus stops. It rewards preparation. Strong legs, an early start and a weather window all make a large difference here.
There is no one famous view here. The appeal is the sustained quality of the walking and the fact that you are unlikely to share it with a crowd.
It is a 12.4 km loop, so you finish where you started and never repeat a section. The route is waymarked and marked on the ground with its own symbol, so navigation is straightforward in good visibility.
The high sections hold snow long after the valleys are green, which keeps the usable season to high summer. The nearest town of any size is Monthey, about 15.1 km away, which is where most people base themselves.
In short, Tour du Grand Chavalard suits fit hikers with a habit of long days and an eye on the forecast. Dog access is not formally recorded here, so check locally before bringing one.
Route map
Hard12.4 km985 m2,438 m
Numbered marks every 5 km
Route line from OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. View the source relation
Elevation
Elevation profile
- Ascent
- +985 m
- Descent
- −960 m
- High
- 2,438 m (7,999 ft)
- Low
- 1,833 m (6,014 ft)
The route in detail
The loop is usually walked clockwise from the main trailhead. The first third does most of the climbing, so settle into a slow rhythm early rather than trying to hold a flat-ground pace. The steepest pitch runs at roughly 59 percent, short but enough to slow most people to a crawl. The return leg is the reverse of the outward journey, which makes it easy to judge remaining time.
Highlights
- High point of 2,438 m (7,999 ft)
- Waymarked route
- Circular route, no backtracking
- Waymarked and signposted
Know before you go
- Best season
- July to September
- Waymarked
- Yes, signed on the ground
- Surface
- Mixed natural surface
- Dogs
- Not recorded, check locally
- Wheelchair access
- Not accessible
- Entrance fee
- No fee recorded
- Camping
- Not recorded
- Drinking water
- Carry your own
- Toilets
- Not recorded
- Mobile coverage
- Patchy on the upper sections
- Parking
- Park at the trailhead, arrive early in high season
- Emergency
- 112 in Europe, 911 in North America
How this trail scores
Computed from distance, ascent, terrain features, surface and access data.
- Scenery
- 53/100
- Adventure
- 37/100
- Difficulty
- 53/100
- Accessibility
- 38/100
- Family
- 21/100
- Dogs
- 62/100
Terrain features, relief and photographic interest
Distance, ascent and how wild the ground is
Effort index from distance and climbing
Surface, gradient and ease of reaching it
Suitability for children who already walk
Access rules, terrain and water along the way
Tips from the trail
- Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and the quietest paths.
- Aim for july to september for the most reliable conditions.
- Leave nothing behind, including fruit peel, and stay on the marked line to protect the ground either side.
Warnings
- This route is long and sustained. Turn back early rather than late if the weather closes in.
- Some sections are steep enough to be awkward in the wet, particularly on the way down.
- At this altitude the weather can turn in under an hour, and temperatures drop fast once cloud arrives.
- Outside the main season expect snow, ice or closed access on the higher sections.
Safety
Emergency services in Switzerland are reached on 112. Tell someone your route and expected finish time before you set off, particularly if you are walking alone. Mobile coverage in the upper sections is patchy at best, so do not count on being able to call for help from the summit. If the weather deteriorates, descending the way you came is almost always the safer option.
What to bring
- Comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes or boots
- Weatherproof jacket
- At least 1.5 litres of water
- Trekking poles for the descent
- Offline map and compass
- Head torch and spare battery
- Extra warm layer
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
- Microspikes if you are walking at the edges of the season
Photography
Overcast light suits this route better than harsh midday sun, especially under tree cover. Because it is a loop, the light changes direction as you go, so save some memory for the back half. A wide lens captures the scale, but a short telephoto is what turns a good view into a photograph.
Frequently asked questions
Reviews
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