Mauvoisin Via Ferrata Guide: Climbing the Saxifrage & Tichodrome
The air in the Val de Bagnes is crisp, smelling of pine and ancient rocks. Stepping off the post bus at the Pont de Mauvoisin stop, you are instantly humbled. Looming overhead is the colossal wall of the Mauvoisin Dam - a concrete fortress holding back millions of tons of glacial lake water.
But you aren’t here to walk across the top just yet. You are here to drop straight into the roaring, shadowy gorge beneath it. Equipped with a climbing harness, helmet, and via ferrata system, you take the downhill path into the canyon…
The sound of the Dranse River grows from a distant whisper into a thunderous rumble. After manoeuvring through boulders and over ladders, etc., the trail ends, and the iron way begins…
Part 1: Entering the Abyss on Saxifrage
Summary
Grade KS3 C/D
Height +220m
Highlights: 15m 3-wire bridge and upward traverse under a bridge to the ladder exit.
Clipping your carabiners onto the steel safety cable, you step onto the rungs of the Saxifrage route. Instantly, the ground vanishes. You are suspended on the smooth, water-carved limestone walls of the gorge. The rungs here are tightly spaced - specifically engineered so children as young as 8 can build confidence - but the view below is anything but gentle. The Dranse River thrashes just 25 m beneath your feet.
Then comes the first test of nerves: a 15-meter, three-cable monkey bridge. Sliding your feet along the bottom cable while gripping the top two hand cables, you step out directly into the canyon's epicenter. The wind blowing through the chasm threatens to push you off balance, and the white water below blurs into a rush of pure adrenaline…
Regaining solid rock on the other side, you traverse horizontally along the cliffside. The cable guides you upward until you eventually reach a historic stone arch bridge. This is the crossroads - the final exit for families and beginners. But looking up at the sheer wall ahead, there is only one option. You clip past the junction and head straight into the vertical unknown…
Part 2: Into the Danger Zone on Tichodrome
Summary
Grade KS4 D+
Height +350m
Highlights: Ladder start under bridge, 3-wire 35m bridge, 2-wire 15m bridge, 3-wire 60m bridge, exposed overhangs, 2-wire 15m bridge, etc.
Named after the nimble, wall-creeping bird, this route does not compromise. The horizontal shelf of Saxifrage gives way to an immediate, steep vertical ascent.
Almost immediately, you are forced onto a massive 35-meter-long suspension bridge hanging a dizzying 40 meters over the canyon floor. As you step out, the bridge begins to sway and bounce under your weight. The exposure is fear inducing. You push forward…
Past the bridge, the route turns sporty and demanding. The iron rungs thin out, forcing you to rely on natural rock friction and raw upper-body strength to pull yourself past athletic, slightly overhanging rock sections.The climax of the journey arrives at a dizzying 75-meter horizontal rock band. You shimmy sideways across this narrow ledge, leading directly to a monstrous 60-meter-long suspension bridge suspended 55 meters in the air. You are completely airborne, staring deep into the throat of the gorge.
After surviving the final high-wire span, the route fights you to the very end. You scramble through a thick patch of alpine cliffside brush - affectionately known by climbers as the "jungle bash" - before tackling a punishing vertical ladder wall. With burning forearms and a racing heart, your hands reach the top. You step directly onto the welcoming terrace of the Hotel de Mauvoisin…
Sentier du Barrage: Time-Traveling to the Dam
Once your gear is unclipped at the hotel, the adventure shifts from vertical exposure to historical exploration. Following the Sentier du Barrage (Dam Trail), you embark on a sweeping uphill hike that snakes right up to the crown of the monument.
Your first stop on this path is the beautiful, isolated Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Neiges (Our Lady of the Snows). Standing quietly against the dramatic mountain backdrop, this small chapel serves as a serene sanctuary where travelers - and the dam workers before them - have paused for reflection for decades.
Leaving the chapel, the path transforms into an open-air museum. Educational placards and large, captioned historical photos line the trail. They tell the gripping chronological story of the valley, mapping out how this massive engineering marvel altered the alpine landscape.The most surprising part of the hike waits near the base of the concrete wall.
The trail plunges underground, guiding you directly through the historic service tunnels and galleries once used by the construction crew. Inside these well-lit, cool stone galleries, an incredible photo exhibition immerses you in the dangerous, daily grit of the 1,800 men who drilled, blasted, and poured concrete here between 1948 and 1958.
Emerging from the dark tunnels, you step right onto the sunny, breathtaking crest of the dam. Walking across the broad crown, you look down one side to see the dizzying 250-meter drop you just scaled, and out the other side to take in the vast, turquoise expanse of Lac de Mauvoisin.
Once you've absorbed the view, or maybe had a quick look at the nearby waterfall, you complete the loop by following the gentle gravel track winding back down through the pastures to the hotel.
Full Adventure Summary
The entire loop is a continuous journey that transitions seamlessly from deep gorge climbing to high-altitude hiking:
The Approach: You begin with an easy, 10-minute downhill walk covering 500 m to drop 50 m into the starting canyon.
Saxifrage Section: Next is a 45 min climb along 250 meters of rock, at a K3 intermediate difficulty level.
Tichodrome Section: The intensity builds with an 80-minute sporty K4/K4+ climb over 380 m via exposed ladders and swaying wire bridges.
Sentier du Barrage: After dropping your gear at the hotel, a moderate 45-min uphill hike takes you through 1.5 km of historical paths and tunnels, gaining 110 m of elevation.
Dam Crest Crossing: You spend about 10 minutes or so enjoying an easy, flat walk across the broad 520-meter crown of Europe's highest arch dam.
The Descent: The loop concludes with a gentle, 30-minute downhill walk covering 1.8 kilometers through mountain pastures back down to your rest point.
Getting There: Public Access & Logistics
Planning your trip by public transit is highly efficient, as regional buses tie directly into the trailheads:
The Bus Route: Take the TMR Bus Line 253, which runs directly from the Le Châble VS, Gare train station deep into the valley. The scenic ride takes approximately 45 min and passes through Lourtier and Fionnay.
Where to Descend: Get off at the Lourtier, Pont de Mauvoisin bus stop. This drops you directly at the entry trail leading into the gorge.
The Return: Once you finish the entire loop, you do not need to hike back down to the bridge. You can hop right back onto the Line 253 bus at the Mauvoisin (Hôtel) terminus stop located right beside the terrace.
Echoes of the Gorge: History of the Route
The VF system is a brilliant example of transforming rugged industrial and natural geography into an outdoor playground. The routes were expertly mapped and anchored into the rock by MTM Maret, commissioned directly by the local municipality of Bagnes and the regional development agency.
The route honors its surroundings; "Saxifrage" is named after the hardy alpine flowers that burst through rock crevices, while "Tichodrome" pays homage to the local wallcreeper birds. To guarantee humans do not interfere with these birds during their delicate nesting seasons, local conservation laws dictate that the entire via ferrata remains strictly closed each spring, opening only from July 1 to October 31.
Beyond the Climb: The Dam, Hotel & Food Choices
The Monumental Mauvoisin Dam: Standing at a staggering 250 meters high, this historic variable-radius arch dam was built between 1951 and 1957. It is the second-highest dam in Switzerland and remains the highest arch dam in Europe.
Hôtel de Mauvoisin: Originally built during the 19th-century golden age of alpine tourism, this historic hotel acts as the ultimate base camp for the region. It is the perfect place to rest your legs, rent your via ferrata safety gear, or catch the post bus right from its doorstep.
Food Choices & Alpine Fuel: At the hotel's restaurant, you can celebrate your climb with traditional, hearty Valaisan cuisine. Indulge in rich, melted Swiss fondue, savory raclette, or a heavy Valaisanne platter loaded with locally cured meats and alpine cheeses - all while sitting out on the terrace looking back at the canyon you just conquered.
These routes were climbed by the author on the 1st of September 2019.
Please see my other articles on hiking routes in and around Mauvoisin…
Contact me by email for photos or to ask questions.
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