★★★★★ | Moderate | Particularly beautiful in autumn
Larches, I demanded, I want to see larches this autumn! Lots of them! So James planned a hike to Lac Bleu, Arolla — in the Swiss Alps near Sion and Evolène, in the canton of Valais.
Autumn in Switzerland is pretty, but usually not spectacular. This region, though, has lots of larches (mélèzes in French) — making it one of the best places in the country for autumn colours. You’ll find these deciduous conifers scattered throughout the forests of Valais. But they dominate the forests around Arolla and Evolène, turning the valley sides a spectacular shade of gold each autumn. Add in the turquoise waters of Lac Bleu and you have picture-perfect autumn scenery.
The hike to Lac Bleu is less than an hour. You can simply walk up for a picnic, or else continue higher on one of the many alpine hiking trails in the region. We started from Arolla and went on to Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges, Col des Ignes and Pas de Chèvres — a difficult but stunning hike with views of glaciers, scrambles across rocky moraines and even a ladder climb up a cliff.
Photos from our hike to Lac Bleu from Arolla
Hiking trail info: Lac Bleu from La Gouille
The shortest hiking trails to Lac Bleu are from La Gouille, a small hamlet not far from Arolla and served by bus from Sion. There is also a pension in La Gouille where you can eat and sleep. All trails are well-marked and good.
Easiest hike
Highest point: 2,100 m (Lac Bleu)
Height gain: +242m/-242m
Technical details: T1 or at most T2; good trail; steepish in parts
Distance: ∼2.3 km return
Lac Bleu is just a 40 minute walk from the village of La Gouille — or you can take a slightly longer route via Ouatse (see the maps below). There’s a small hamlet just under the lake that in summer has a buvette where you can buy drinks and snacks.
Longer hikes
Highest point: 2,100 m (Lac Bleu)
Height gain: ∼+400m/-400m
Technical details: T1 or at most T2; good trail; steepish in parts
Distance: ∼6 or ∼7 km
You can alternatively make a longer round trip from La Gouille, via Pramousse. The longer version is slightly less steep. It includes part of the hiking trail to Arolla, which you could also walk to for an even longer round hike (see below).
Hiking trail info: Lac Bleu from Arolla
The trail from Arolla is also well-marked and good. There are chains in a couple of places to get over rocks in the trail, but you don’t really need them and there’s no danger of a fall.
Arolla is served by bus from Sion, and has many hotels and restaurants. You could make a round walk by starting in Arolla and returning to La Gouille (or vice versa) then either walking or catching the bus back down the valley to your starting point.
Moderate hike: Arolla – Lac Bleu – Arolla
Highest point: 2,100 m (Lac Bleu)
Height gain: +559m/-559m
Technical details: T3 – but only a very small section with chains. The walk is not very hard: good trail; steepish in parts
Distance: 8 km return
The trail begins in the car park of the Hôtel du Glacier Arolla (46°01’34.4″N 7°28’53.4″E), climbing up through the forest and then following the Val d’Hérens in the direction of Evolène. After a couple of kilometers the track climbs up to Lac Bleu. Look behind you once you’re out of the trees for a beautiful view of the glaciers higher up the valley. Return the same way, or via La Gouille.
Hiking trail maps
(gpx downloads under the maps)