Lac d'Emosson (Le Cheval Blanc)
Description
The first phase of the tour is characterized by several mountain railway rides. First from Martigny by train to Le Châtelard. Here you change to the extremely steep funicular to Les Montuires, which is followed by the first highlight of the day: The bikes are loaded onto a small, open railroad (maximum four bikes). You then ride through the middle of the steep terrain towards the dam wall of Lac d'Emosson until you reach an inclined lift that takes you up to the dam wall. From now on, you will need your own muscle power. First you ride up to Lac du Vieux Emosson on a steep asphalt road, then you push most of the way up to the Col du Vieux at the foot of the mighty Cheval Blanc. From here, the bike rests on your shoulders up to an altitude of around 2700 meters above sea level. The bike is now deposited and the summit (2830 meters above sea level) is conquered on foot. The path up to the summit is high alpine and secured with ropes in places, but the ascent on foot is worth it for the fantastic view alone.
The descent back to Lac d'Emosson then follows the ascent route. The downhill trail is first-class: flowing, alpine, varied. From the upper to the lower reservoir, there is also a trail alternative instead of the asphalt road. From Lac d'Emosson, where you started the tour, you descend on a gravel road to Les Montuires (the trail alternatives are not rideable), where the first-class trail down to Giétroz and on to Le Châtelard begins at the top station of the funicular. There are some very challenging sections in the lower part, but overall the trail is very easy to ride. From Le Châtelard, there is a section on the main road to Trient before climbing up to the Col de la Forclaz. The pass high above Martigny is the starting point for the final descent. Always follow the trail markings. Shortly before Les Rappes, turn right and take the final section down to Le Brocard. Along the river La Dranse, you finally reach the center of Martigny.
Tips:
- The trail through the Gorge de la Veudale down to Lac d'Emosson looks promising, but is extremely challenging and not rideable in many sections.
- Less technical riders leave the bike at the dam wall of Lac du Vieux Emosson and start from there on foot in the direction of Cheval Blanc.
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
42 km
1435 m
2925 m
468 above sea level
2830 above sea level
1 day
Martigny
Martigny
1863
not suitable
More information
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User comments (7)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
I rode the tour on July 18, 2025. As I came from Lac de Salanfe via Col d'Emaney and Col de Barberine to Lac d'Emosson (approx. 4 hours hike & bike), I skipped the climb to Cheval Blanc and started the tour (descent) directly at the dam wall. The section up to Giétroz is quite technical but super rideable, but from there it was too much for me. Too steep and too blocked. There might be a more rideable option from Giétroz onwards. As I had already ridden the Col de la Forclaz several times, I turned left before Trient and rode to the right of the river Trient out of the valley to the descent from Mont d'Arpille #1296. This route offers a few cool trails "at the beginning", then from La Crettaz (almost) only forest roads (I was advised against the trail along the Trient) to the Pont de Gueuroz. From there, the descent to Vernayaz is extremely rough and, for me, no fun at all. Conclusion: The highlight of the day was the hike & bike between Lacs Salanfe and Emosson, which doesn't exactly speak for the bike tour itself.
I ride a Scott Genius Ultimate and am usually in the head group uphill; downhill I'm always the last, by a long way.
From the lower reservoir, Col de la Gueule.
First part to Gietroz really nice, rocky and roots, tight bends, 95% rideable.
Gietroz-Chatelard not recommended, 95% worn!
Rode up to the Col de la Forclaz (Buvette!) then nice fast trail to Martigny (Fromatheque!) 😀
It was awesome 😀
Trail between the reservoirs has a new route, I would skip it next time.
Also the part at the first houses from Gitroz 1360m to Chatelard, here I had to carry unexpectedly much.
The 3 shuttles from Chatelard to the reservoir are fun, especially the panorama train.
If you get off one stop earlier, you can also take the letter carrier to the reservoir
Postbus 🤪
Great tour, summits, riding fun and a fantastic lunar landscape. I went up from Finhaut. Deposited the bike at 2700m, from there it makes no sense but great summit trail. The descent from there is very easy and fun. Variant under the old Emosson wall not rideable. New Emosson to Chatelard as described, partly steep but mostly good to ride. Single to Martigny is great!
Tour made on July 2, 2022. Very little residual snow for the time of year and no snow in the uppermost, difficult part.
Started the tour with the train ride from Vernayaz to Finhaut. From here via the TDF road route to the lower Emosson dam. From here the tour to the summit as described.
Descend again to the lower dam as described, but then continue on the road to the hiking trail junction at 1883 m above sea level. Follow this path to La Léchère. From here, take the road to Finhaut and then the cycle path through the Trient valley to Salvan with a final ride along the horse-drawn carriage route back to Vernayaz.
A total of approx. 1750 m and 2450 tm.
I was able to enjoy this fantastic view from the white horse last summer with #fatbikezermatt. With Beat C. Prudhomme as my guide, the entire ascent of this alpine Tour de France was of course completed under my own steam.
You can find a few impressions here: http://halfmoon-biking.ch/wallis/tour-demosson/
Even if the archosaurs left their footprints up there millions of years ago, this does not mean that we have to do the same. So please ride the trails with respect instead of shredding them ;)