Tête du Mont

The mule track leading to Barmelle is one of the most daring in the Aosta Valley, demonstrating the remarkable skill in finding a route on an extremely steep slope with numerous rocky drops.
The path climbs, often with steep stone steps, always seeking the best passage. Some more exposed sections are equipped with a safety rope.
Due to the steepness of the slope, it should only be attempted on dry ground.
From the summit of Tête de Mont, there is a panoramic view over the head of the Champorcher Valley.
The traverse returning towards Grand Rosier includes very exposed sections, to be tackled with caution and only by experienced hikers.
Even just visiting the village of Barmelle alone is worth the excursion.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn left towards Aosta. At the roundabout, continue on the left, still heading for Aosta.
Continue past Donnas and reach Bard. After passing through the town, at the roundabout, turn left towards Champorcher.
Pass through the village of Hône and enter the Champorcher Valley.
Continue past Pontboset and proceed to the hamlet of Savin, where after two hairpin bends, on the left, there is a small parking area.
From the Verrès toll booth, turn right towards Turin, pass Arnad, and at the roundabout, turn right towards Champorcher.

Cross the road and descend briefly along it, then turn left onto the steep paved lane that climbs upwards. Follow it and then take a left (signpost 14B) onto the trail to Barmelle.
The trail crosses the small valley before beginning the steepest section. There are no junctions; simply push on along the very steep stretches, sometimes with stone steps.
In the final part, at around 1,400 metres, there is the most exposed section, but the trail is well-built and a fixed rope provides reassurance.
After the gully section, the long traverse to the right begins, leading to the fountain. The slope eases and you can easily reach the village and the small church, from which there is a panoramic view of the Champorcher valley.
After a pause at the church, the trail climbs steep hairpins through the larch forest to reach the watershed. Turning left here leads to the summit of Tête du Mont.
Descend along the same trail to an elevation of 1,766 metres, where on the right is the path leading to Grand Rosier. The trail crosses very steep slopes with some exposed sections that must be navigated with care, eventually reaching the meadows above Grand Rosier.
Cross the village and reach the paved road. After a short stretch, the trail descends slightly, crossing down to below the houses of Petit Rosier. Below the village, leave the continuing trail and descend on the left along a steep path through a dense spruce forest to reach the Champorcher valley road.
Slightly climb left to reach the beautiful chapel of Echelly. Then descend along the wide royal mulattiere to the main road, cross it, and on the rocky wall to the right you can see the large inscription commemorating the road’s construction.
Finally, follow the descending road to return to the car.