Crest – Donnas

The ascent to Col Pousseuil offers views of the Retempio Sanctuary, beautifully set in a wide clearing.
The descent follows the Moillaz valley, crossing a lovely plateau carved by a winding stream.
From the plateau down to Donnas, the route continues along a scenic mule track.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn left toward Aosta. At the roundabout, continue to the left, still heading toward Aosta.
Continue past Donnas and reach Bard. After the village, at the roundabout, turn left toward Champorcher. Pass through Hône and enter the Val di Champorcher.
Continue until Pontboset; at the end of the village, turn left onto the road descending to the hamlet. After a couple of hairpin turns, cross the stream and continue for a few hundred meters to find, on the right, the steep road that climbs up to Crest. Follow this road all the way to its end.
From the Verrès motorway exit, turn right toward Turin, pass Arnad, and at the roundabout, turn right toward Champorcher.

From Crest Dessus, retrace the previous day’s route, then descend to the left and immediately take the main trail to the right. This follows, on level ground, the water channel path leading to the hydroelectric power plant of Hône.
Continue along this path, cross the bridge, and take the trail to the right, which climbs steeply through the forest via a stone staircase. The trail remains steep through the woods until it emerges into a clearing below the Retempio Sanctuary.
With a gentler climb, reach first the dortoir and then the sanctuary, which is worth a pause. From the sanctuary, the trail climbs up the ridge behind it, then crosses almost level to the left to reach the alpine pasture of Valsemma.
From here, ascend to the right into a small valley, alternating between sparse woods, rhododendron patches, and small meadows, before a steeper stretch leads to Col Pousseuil.
From the pass, descend into a small valley, then turn right and continue down to the huts of Moillaz. Cross the beautiful plateau with its winding stream, then begin descending further into the valley. Pass the huts of Giassit de Moillaz, cross the stream, and continue through the valley above the houses of Mont Meillant, then turn right to reach the rural road ending at the Fer di Bonze stream.
Climb slightly along the road, then follow it downhill to the houses of Donnes. Leave the road and take the mule track descending through the forest until reaching the church of Monteil.
From here, follow the paved road, turn left, and at a junction turn right. Continue until a small roundabout, where you leave the road and cross the pedestrian bridge that leads into the village of Donnas, the end of this stage.