HomeTrailsGR 20 Principale vs Via Alpina Red R126

GR 20 Principale vs Via Alpina Red R126

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Units
GR 20 Principale Via Alpina Red R126
Distance 112 mi181 km 5.9 mi10 km
Elevation gain 29,646 ft9,036 m 1,401 ft427 m
Typical duration 10 days 1 day
Difficulty
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National International
Country France France
Best time to hike Best months: June, August Best from August to August
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

GR 20 Principale vs Via Alpina Red R126: which should you hike?

At 112 mi181 km, GR 20 Principale is the longer route — roughly 106 mi171 km more than Via Alpina Red R126 (5.9 mi10 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Via Alpina Red R126 is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.