Everything there is to do around the Lodge.
Hover over a point to see what it is, click to find out more. Dark circles group several places: click to zoom in. In the list, hover over a place to spot it on the map.
The places
65 places-
Lodge & getting here
Barberine Lodge
Your base camp: the Grand Lodge (54 beds) and the P’tit Lodge (16 beds), at the edge of the forest.
Route des Vallorbés 6, 1925 Le Châtelard -
Lodge & getting here
Châtelard-Frontière station
Mont-Blanc Express stop between Martigny and Chamonix, 650 m from the Lodge.
Direct train Martigny – Chamonix -
Places to visit
SBB hydroelectric museum
The story of the power behind Swiss trains, inside the old Châtelard-Barberine plant.
Châtelard village -
Places to visit
Émosson dam and lake
A turquoise lake facing Mont Blanc, by road or funicular. Guided tours of the dam in summer.
1,930 m · summer -
Places to visit
Dinosaur footprints
Reptile tracks over 240 million years old, on a rock slab at Vieux-Émosson (2,400 m).
12 km · 5 h from Émosson · visible from mid-July -
Places to visit
Trient Gorge
A walkway hanging inside a narrow, dizzying gorge at Vernayaz.
Vernayaz · by Mont-Blanc Express -
Places to visit
Mysterious Gorges and Nymphs’ Cave
Walkways and stairs deep inside a wild gorge, down to the Nymphs’ Cave and its glass sculpture.
Closed 25 Oct 2026 – 6 June 2027 -
Places to visit
Triège Gorge
A balcony path above the Triège waterfalls, between Salvan and Les Marécottes.
Closed in 2026 – check before going -
Places to visit
Trient Glacier
A tongue of ice flowing down from the Trient plateau, reached via the bisse path and the Buvette du Glacier.
From Trient or the Col de la Forclaz -
Places to visit
Fort de Litroz
An underground military fort from the Second World War, above the Tête-Noire gorges.
Guided tours April–November, groups of 10+ -
Places to visit
Marconi Foundation and trail
Marconi made his first radio tests in Salvan: a small museum and a walk to the Pierre Bergère boulder.
1 km · 45 min -
Places to visit
Moulin Fine
The last working water mill in the area, still grinding grain. Bread and light meals on open days.
One Sunday a month, May–October -
Places to visit
Dailley Gorge
Walkways, tunnels and stairs along the Salanfe waterfalls, with the famous wedged rock.
5.4 km · 2 h 10 · late April–October -
Places to visit
Maison de Barberine museum
A 1705 farmhouse in the hamlet of Barberine, telling the story of life in the old days.
July–August, afternoons -
Places to visit
Aiguilles Rouges reserve – Col des Montets
A free visitor chalet with exhibitions and a botanical trail, gateway to the reserve.
Summer -
Hikes
Barberine waterfall
A big waterfall below the Émosson dam, spectacular when the river runs high.
4 km · 1 h 30 · easy -
Hikes
Bérard waterfall
Through the meadows of Vallorcine to a waterfall and its new footbridge.
1.5 km · 1 h · easy -
Hikes
Bisse du Trient
An 1895 water channel between the Col de la Forclaz and the glacier, shaded by larches.
6.6 km · 1 h 40 · easy -
Hikes
Balcons de Trient
A big loop via the Catogne pasture, the Col de Balme and the glacier, looking over Chamonix.
18.7 km · 5 h · +1,130 m -
Hikes
Pissevache and Trient Gorge
From the great Pissevache waterfall to the Trient Gorge, down in the Rhône valley.
4.2 km · 1 h -
Hikes
Lac de Salanfe
A high mountain lake below the Dents du Midi, with an inn at 1,950 m and dam tours in summer.
From Van d’en Haut (Salvan) -
Hikes
La Creusaz – Les Marécottes
Gondola from Les Marécottes: walks facing Mont Blanc in summer, a small family ski area in winter.
Summer and winter -
Hikes
Mont Blanc Balcony Trail
An educational trail from Finhaut to Six Jeur, above Lake Émosson, facing Mont Blanc.
7.5 km · 3 h · +780 m -
Hikes
Tour du Ruan
A multi-day trek around the Ruan from Émosson, via the Cheval-Blanc and the Grenairon refuge.
For experienced hikers -
Hikes
Trient Hut
An SAC hut at 3,170 m on the edge of the Trient glacier plateau, base for high-mountain routes.
High mountains · go with a guide -
Hikes
Trient bisse footbridge
A 64 m suspension bridge, 13 m above the torrent, on the bisse path.
On the Bisse du Trient -
Hikes
Emaney alpine pasture
A summer pasture with a snack bar below three passes, 1 h 30 from the top of La Creusaz.
Late June to late September -
Hikes
Route des Diligences
The historic 19th-century coach road from Vernayaz to Finhaut. Back by Mont-Blanc Express.
12.4 km · 5 h · +1,080 m -
Hikes
Loriaz pasture and refuge
A summer pasture at 2,020 m looking at Mont Blanc and the Trient glacier, above Vallorcine.
From Le Couteray · ≈ 2 h -
Hikes
Bérard valley and Pierre à Bérard
A wild nature reserve up to the refuge tucked under a huge boulder, at 1,924 m.
From Le Buet · ≈ 2 h 30 -
Hikes
Val de Trè-les-Eaux
A wild side valley below the Cornes de Loriaz, with chain-protected sections.
4.7 km one way · difficult -
Thrills
VerticAlp Émosson
A funicular up to an 87% gradient, a panoramic little train and a minifunic up to the dam.
Châtelard village · summer -
Thrills
Trouléroz pendulum
A pendulum jump from the Trouléroz viaduct, for those who love a drop.
Between Châtelard and Finhaut -
Thrills
Climbing Barberine – Giétroz
Crags and multi-pitch routes for every level around Finhaut, Barberine and Émosson.
April to November -
Thrills
Canyoning No Limits
Jumps, slides and abseils in the valley’s canyons, with a guide.
Les Marécottes · summer -
Thrills
EMOSSiONelle zip line
A 450 m flight, 200 m above the ground, right across the Émosson dam.
June to October -
Thrills
Cycling up the Col de la Gueulaz
The legendary Tour de France climb from Châtelard and Finhaut to the Émosson dam.
≈ 11 km from Finhaut · road -
Thrills
Trient Valley mountain-bike tour
A big loop via Salvan, Finhaut, Vallorcine and the Col de la Forclaz, back through the Martigny vineyards.
51.6 km · +1,970 m · hard -
Thrills
La Creusaz – Les Marécottes scooter ride
An off-road scooter descent of 678 m, after riding up by gondola.
Summer · rental at the top -
Thrills
Escapeworld Vernayaz
Escape games inside old military forts, for 2 to 18 players.
All year · age 12+ -
Families
Alpine zoo and pool, Les Marécottes
Bears, wolves, lynx and ibex, and a swimming pool carved into the rock right next door.
Les Marécottes · by Mont-Blanc Express -
Families
Émosson–Montuires treasure hunt
Clues and riddles along the “La face cachée de Barberine” trail, between the dam and the VerticAlp Café.
Summer · map at the Émosson Info Point -
Families
Charlotte the Marmot trail
12 play stations for 6–12 year olds about the geology, water and nature of Émosson.
9.7 km · 3 h 30 · loop -
Families
Vieux Guide goat farm
Visit the farm, the goats and kids, then make your own butter or share a raclette.
Summer · booking required -
Families
“Au fil du rail” trail game
A 3 km game trail through Vallorcine, with a reward at the end. Booklet at the tourist office.
3 km · from Vallorcine station -
Winter & skiing
Balme ski area – Vallorcine
Gondola right by Vallorcine station up to the Balme and Le Tour slopes.
5 min by car -
Winter & skiing
Trient snow garden
A free mini ski tow on a gentle 100 m slope, for the very first turns.
Depending on snow -
Winter & skiing
Les Marécottes sledge run
A long sledge descent from La Creusaz down to Les Marécottes.
Winter · by gondola -
Winter & skiing
Skiing at Les Marécottes
The La Creusaz ski area facing Mont Blanc, easy to reach on the Mont-Blanc Express.
Winter · train + ski deal -
Winter & skiing
Salvan ice rink
Covered and open-air rink, skate rental and a snack bar.
From late November -
Winter & skiing
Vallorcine sledging run
A free groomed run behind the tourist office, for children and adults.
Mid-December to mid-March -
Winter & skiing
Argentière – Les Grands Montets
A mountain village and a ski area famous for off-piste and glaciers.
Argentière · ≈ 15 min -
A little further
Chamonix – Aiguille du Midi
The capital of mountaineering and the cable car up to 3,842 m, facing Mont Blanc.
About 35 min by Mont-Blanc Express -
A little further
Montenvers – Mer de Glace
A rack railway up to France’s largest glacier and its ice cave.
Train from Chamonix · 20 min -
A little further
Le Brévent
A cable car up to 2,525 m, with the finest face-on view of Mont Blanc.
From Chamonix -
A little further
La Flégère and Lac Blanc
The most photographed lake in the massif, at 2,352 m, facing the Chamonix Aiguilles.
From La Flégère · ≈ 1 h 30 -
A little further
Mont Blanc Tramway
France’s highest rack railway, from Le Fayet up to the Nid d’Aigle (2,362 m).
From Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet · summer -
A little further
Merlet wildlife park
Chamois, ibex, marmots and deer roaming free, facing Mont Blanc at 1,500 m.
Les Houches · summer -
A little further
Diosaz Gorge
A suspended path along spectacular waterfalls, at Servoz.
June to September -
A little further
Lac des Gaillands
Swimming, beginner climbing crags, a ropes course and a playground, with Mont Blanc behind.
Chamonix · summer -
A little further
QC Terme Chamonix
Baths, saunas and heated pools looking out at the Mont Blanc massif.
All year -
A little further
Chamonix museums
Crystal Museum and Alpine Museum: minerals of the massif and the history of mountaineering.
Chamonix centre -
A little further
Fondation Pierre Gianadda
Major art exhibitions, a Gallo-Roman museum, a car museum and a sculpture garden.
Martigny · all year -
A little further
Barryland
The St Bernard museum and dogs, next to the Roman amphitheatre.
Martigny · all year -
A little further
Les Bains Publics, Martigny
Hot and cold baths, saunas and relaxation, inspired by Roman thermal baths.
Martigny · daily
Locations and details are for guidance only. Check opening times with each site.