Walser trail

A long but very scenic route along the right-hand side of the valley, taking you from the Castel Savoia area down to Gressoney-La-Trinité.
The trail offers breathtaking panoramic views and passes through several alpine pastures as well as the two villages of Alpenzù Grande and Alpenzù Piccolo. In several points, paths branch off for descending to the valley.
Some sections are exposed and should be attempted only by experienced hikers who are comfortable with heights.
The itinerary typically involves using two vehicles, leaving one in Gressoney-La-Trinité for the return. To shorten the initial climb by about an hour, it’s possible to start from the hairpin turn at 1,720 m, reaching the start of the Walser trail in roughly ten minutes.
Alternatively, the return can be done by bus. In that case, it is best to start from the Weissmatten car park, where the bus stop is located, adding roughly ten minutes to the ascent.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn right toward Turin. At the second roundabout, turn left toward Gressoney.
Drive for a few hundred meters and then turn right onto the road of the Lys Valley, passing through the villages of Lillianes, Fontainemore, Issime, and Gaby. Continue until reaching Valdobbia, where you turn left toward Castel Savoia.
Pass the car park and continue along the road, following it until you reach the lift facilities. Parking is available in the road clearings nearby.

Follow trail marker 2 into the dense fir forest, ascending until you reach Cialvrina.
Continue along a service track until you find a junction on the right where the Walser Trail begins. The trail winds through the beautiful forest on an easy path until reaching the junction with the trail that comes directly from where you parked.
Follow the trail toward Col Ranzola for a short distance until you cross a small stream. Shortly after, leave this trail and take the path on the right that passes below the Ranzola Inferiore alpine pastures. Descend slightly to cross a ravine, then continue with a gentle climb to reach the Roncké and Jatza alpine pastures (both of which allow descent to the valley floor).
Continue along a long traverse, reaching Valnera Inferiore alpine pasture. After another stretch, leave the old trail and descend sharply with some switchbacks, then cross to the left and follow an exposed ledge equipped with a fixed rope, leading to a challenging scree slope to cross.
You will then reach a ridge where the village of Alpenzu Grande comes into view, reached via a final traverse. In the village is the eponymous refuge, where a lunch stop is possible.
From here, the trail becomes much more frequented. With some ups and downs through the forest, you reach Alpenzu Piccolo, and the final descent brings you to the roundabout just before Gressoney-La-Trinité, marking the end of this long hike.