Via Alpina Red R116

The Via Alpina Red R116 is a roughly 12 km point-to-point trail in the Valais region of Switzerland, climbing from Bourg-St-Pierre at 1,632 m to the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard at 2,469 m and gaining about 840 m of elevation over a single day. Rated moderate, it follows a historic Alpine pass crossing toward Italy.

About the Via Alpina Red R116

The Via Alpina Red R116 is stage 116 of the Red Trail, the longest of the five Via Alpina routes that thread across the European Alps. The full Red Trail runs 161 stages from Trieste on the Italian Adriatic to Monaco on the Mediterranean, crossing all eight Alpine countries: Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy, France and Monaco. The Via Alpina network was created in 2000 by public and private organisations from those eight countries and received EU funding between 2001 and 2008 to support sustainable development in remote mountain communities.

This particular stage links the village of Bourg-St-Pierre, deep in the upper Entremont valley of canton Valais, with the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard — the Great St Bernard Pass — one of the oldest and most storied crossings in the Alps. At 2,469 m the pass marks the Swiss-Italian frontier and is home to the famous hospice founded around 1050 by St Bernard of Menthon, the breeding centre of the St Bernard rescue dogs, and the Roman road that armies and pilgrims have used for two thousand years. Operated and waymarked by via-alpina.org, the R116 is a manageable but genuinely high-mountain day that rewards walkers with one of the most atmospheric passes in the western Alps.

Because the route ends at an international border, the R116 connects directly to stage R117 (Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard to Cérellaz) on the Italian side, making it a natural building block for thru-hikers piecing together the Valais and Aosta sections of the Red Trail.

Route Overview & Stages

The R116 is a single Via Alpina stage, but it breaks naturally into three sections defined by the valley floor, the reservoir country around Lac des Toules, and the final climb to the pass. The table below summarises the approximate figures; distances and gains are estimates based on the official stage profile, so treat them as planning numbers rather than survey data.

Most walkers complete the R116 in four to five hours of moving time, plus stops. The terrain is well-graded mountain path with a few rocky sections near the top; there is no technical scrambling, but the altitude and exposure on the final climb make it a serious outing in poor weather.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Bourg-St-Pierre (1,632 m) — a compact stone village with a Romanesque church tower and a Roman milestone, historically the last Swiss settlement before the pass. It has fed and sheltered travellers heading to Italy for centuries.
• Lac des Toules (1,810 m) — a hydroelectric reservoir hemmed by larch slopes, notable as the site of Switzerland's first Alpine floating solar power plant, installed on its surface.
• Combe des Morts — the upper valley below the pass, whose grim name ("valley of the dead") recalls travellers lost to avalanches and storms on the historic crossing.
• The Roman road — sections of the ancient paved route, the Summus Poeninus, are still visible near the top, used by Roman legions and medieval pilgrims on the Via Francigena.
• Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard — the monastery founded around 1050 by St Bernard of Menthon, continuously sheltering travellers for nearly a thousand years and still run by Augustinian canons.
• St Bernard dogs — the pass is the historic home of the rescue breed; the Barry Foundation kennels and museum at the col tell their story.
• Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard (2,469 m) — the windswept saddle on the Swiss-Italian border, with its small lake, hospice buildings and a statue marking the frontier.
• Plan de Proz — a flat valley meadow on the lower approach, a good rest stop with views back down toward the Mont Vélan massif.

Best Time to Hike the Via Alpina Red R116

The R116 is a high-pass route, and the snow-free window is short. The reliable season runs from late June to late September, and as of 2026 the single best month to hike it is August, when the pass is almost certainly clear of snow, the hospice and mountain inns are fully open, and daytime temperatures at the col typically sit between 8 and 15 °C.

In late June and early July, snowfields often linger in the Combe des Morts and on the final climb above 2,300 m, so check conditions before setting out. July brings the fullest flush of Alpine wildflowers across the pastures around Bourg-St-Bernard. September offers crisp air, thinner crowds and the first golden tint in the larches, but the weather grows less stable and the first snowfalls can arrive by month's end. Outside roughly mid-June to early October, the route should be treated as a winter mountaineering objective rather than a hike. At any time of year, the col is notoriously windy and can be 10 °C colder than the valley, so carry insulation even on a warm August morning.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The obvious overnight option is the Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard at the pass, where the Augustinian community offers simple dormitory and room accommodation; a bed with half-board (dinner and breakfast) usually costs in the region of €55–75 per person, and a donation-based ethos still underpins the welcome. In Bourg-St-Pierre at the start, hotels and a bunkhouse provide rooms from roughly €70–110 for a double, and the village has a small grocery for resupply. Mid-route, the Bourg-St-Bernard area near the cable-car base has seasonal lodging. Wild camping is restricted in this fragile high-altitude zone and is discouraged near the hospice and reservoir; if you carry a tent, pitch discreetly below the tree line and leave no trace. Book the hospice ahead in August, when pilgrim and Via Alpina traffic fills beds quickly.

Getting There & Back

The nearest railhead is Martigny, on the main Valais line about 35 km north of Bourg-St-Pierre and well connected to Geneva Airport (around 1 hour 30 minutes by train). From Martigny, take the regional train to Orsières and then the seasonal PostBus up the Entremont valley to Bourg-St-Pierre; the combined journey takes roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. From the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard at the finish, a summer PostBus runs back down to Orsières and Martigny, and onward buses cross into Aosta in Italy. Plan around the seasonal timetable, as the high-altitude bus services typically operate only from late June to mid-September. Driving is possible to Bourg-St-Pierre, but the road over the pass involves a toll tunnel, so most hikers rely on the bus-and-train combination.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the R116 — Switzerland's hiking network is free to access and the Via Alpina is openly waymarked with the standard yellow signs and the route's distinctive logo. The only costs you will meet are accommodation, food, transport, and any optional extras such as the St Bernard dog museum at the pass. Because the col sits on the international border, carry a passport or national ID card; while crossings between Switzerland and the Schengen area are usually open, identity checks can occur at this frontier.

Gear & Packing List

This is a single demanding day at altitude, so pack for fast-changing mountain weather rather than a casual valley walk. A 30–45 litre pack handles a day stage with room for layers and lunch; the Abisko Hike 35 is a comfortable all-day carry, while ultralight thru-hikers stringing several Red Trail stages together often favour the 2400 Windrider or the larger 3400 Windrider for multi-day loads. Bring a windproof shell and an insulating layer for the exposed col, sturdy boots for the rocky upper path, sun protection for the open pastures, and at least 1.5 litres of water as refill points are limited above Lac des Toules. If you are choosing a new pack for a longer Alpine traverse, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests seven options head to head. Sustained climbing at altitude burns calories fast — see how many calories you need hiking a full day to plan trail snacks and avoid bonking on the final ascent.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the high passes and hospice atmosphere of the R116 appeal, the wider Valais and western Alps offer plenty more in the same vein. The classic glacier-flanked traverse and the neighbouring Combins region pair especially well with this stage for a longer trip:

• Chamonix-Zermatt Walker's route — the celebrated Haute Route on foot, linking two of the Alps' great mountain towns.
• Tour des Combins - stage 5 - Mauvoisin–Cabane Chanrion–Mauvoisin — a wild high-mountain loop close to the same Valais massifs.
• European Long distance path E1 - part Switzerland — a continental traverse for those chasing big mileage.
• Via Francigena (Switzerland) — the historic pilgrim road that also crosses the Great St Bernard Pass.
• Via Alpina Red R104 — another Swiss stage of the same Red Trail to extend your Via Alpina journey.

For a contrasting but equally scenic multi-day idea, our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania shows how the Balkan Alps deliver similar pass-crossing drama at a gentler price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Via Alpina Red R116?
August is the single best month. The Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard at 2,469 m is reliably snow-free, the hospice and mountain inns are fully open, and temperatures at the pass usually sit between 8 and 15 °C. Late June and September also work, but expect lingering snowfields early in summer and the first storms by late September.

How difficult is the Via Alpina Red R116?
It is rated moderate. There is no technical climbing or scrambling, just a steady gain of about 840 m on well-graded mountain path. The challenge comes from the high altitude, roughly 12 km distance, and the exposed, windy final climb to 2,469 m, where weather can turn quickly. Reasonable hill fitness and proper layers are essential.

How far is the Via Alpina Red R116 per day?
The R116 is a single stage of about 12 km, normally walked in one day. Most hikers take four to five hours of moving time, plus rest stops, climbing from Bourg-St-Pierre to the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard. It connects directly to stage R117 on the Italian side for those continuing the Red Trail across the border.

Where can I stay along the route?
The Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard at the pass offers dormitory and room accommodation with half-board for roughly €55–75 per person. Bourg-St-Pierre at the start has hotels and a bunkhouse from about €70–110 for a double. Book the hospice ahead in August. Wild camping is discouraged in this fragile high-altitude zone.

Do I need a permit to hike the Via Alpina Red R116?
No permit is required. Switzerland's hiking network is free to access and the Via Alpina is openly waymarked. You only pay for accommodation, food and transport. Because the col sits on the Swiss-Italian border, carry a passport or national ID card, as identity checks can occasionally take place at this frontier crossing.

For full official stage details, profiles and waymarking, consult the Via Alpina stage page for R116, and plan train and PostBus connections through Martigny and Orsières with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).