Hiking

Col Champillon from Plan du Débat

The Col Champillon surrounded by greenery

Stunning blooms in the presence of the Grand Combin

The beginning of the trail along the Ru de By

Details

Plan du Débat

Departure location

Doues

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

4.0

Rating

633 m

Ascent vertical drop

3h 5m

Total time

Description

The Col Champillon is located on the high hill of Doues, and is a pass that connects the Valpelline with the Valley of the Great St. Bernard, squeezed between Mont Chenaille on the right and the Crou de Bleintse on the left.The hike is simple and suitable for the average trained hiker, it unfolds in a verdant pastureland environment full of flowers in the summertime. Up to the Champillon Refuge it is a pleasant walk, while the final section is a little steeper and more strenuous, but the arrival...

Services in the surroundings

Ollomont Town Hall

Ollomont 1.853 m

Cross-country ski run Ollomont

Ollomont 1.851 m

Nearby attractions

Parish Church of St. Augustine

Ollomont 1.888 m

Reviews

30/06/2026

climbandtrek

Description

Gita mattutina in solitaria. Percorso in ordine.

Comment

Meteo bello e caldo. Molta gente in giro. più info e foto su climbandtrek.it

More info

Road access: Parcheggio a Plan Debat.

28/05/2026

climbandtrek

Description

Sono salito al rifugio, dove mi sono fermato, al ritorno dal Mont Rond. Sentiero senza neve.

Comment

Nessuno in giro. Avvistato un gallo cedrone nel boschetto sopra il ru de by. più info e foto su climbandtrek.it

More info

Road access: Parcheggio a Plan Debat.

Details

Plan du Débat

Departure location

Doues

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

1h 50m

Ascent time

1h 15m

Descent time

3h 5m

Total time

2.076 m

Starting elevation

2.709 m

Arrival elevation

633 m

Ascent vertical drop

7.100 m

Total length

9,AV1

Signposts

Jul - Aug - Sep

Best period

medium

Crowding

4.0

Rating

Overview

Reaching the start

From the Aosta East tollbooth take the tunnel along the E27 road leading into the Great St. Bernard Valley, at the end of which you meet the SS27 coming from the center of Aosta. Just before Gignod, immediately after the last tunnel, proceed to the right following the Valpelline SR28, which should be followed for 3 km until meeting on the left the junction for Allein/Doues.The road now begins to climb with hairpin bends reaching the center of Doues. Just before the square turn left following the signs for Champillon, which will be reached in 12 km on a well-paved mountain road touching the many hamlets of Doues. Large dirt parking area at Plan du Débat.

The route

From the parking lot at Plan du Débat, walk along the dirt road to the small wooden bridge on the left where there are signs for Trail No. 9 to the Champillon Refuge. The first part of the trail runs parallel to the Ru de By watercourse, which conveys water to the territories of Doues and Allein.You pass the Our Lady of the Snows chapel and shortly after meet the dirt road serving the alpine pastures and the hut, which should be followed for a few hundred meters to Alpe Pessinoille 2150 m.The trail continues at the edge into the larch forest on the left with a steeply sloping section, and then rejoins the dirt track in the clearing above with the large alpine pasture Tsa de Champillon 2297 m.From here the remaining part of the trail is clearly visible, with the Champillon Refuge located on the grassy knoll not far away; it is reached by continuing along the wide dirt track, with a few short steeper points, until reaching the welcoming refuge 2430 m, near which there is a fountain. After a restorative break, you resume the ascent by following the dirt track that immediately climbs steeply along the grassy ridge above the hut; you are following the path of Alta Via No. 1.With a bit of effort you climb with numerous hairpin bends until you reach the top of the slope, turning your gaze to the right the Grand Combin and Mont Gelè capture your attention.The ascent continues decisively to the left, still quite strenuous skirting a grassy hump on the eastern slopes of Mont Chenaille, until at the entrance to a gentler depression the slope drops sharply.You cross a beautiful meadow basin, which in the summertime is full of flowers (including edelweiss), leaving the rocky mass of Crou de Bleintse on the left and pointing to the now nearby Col Champillon, recognizable by the large stone memorial.On reaching the pass, the panorama will suddenly widen over the Great St. Bernard Valley, while it is advisable to climb a few meters toward a small rocky tower to the south to be able to also admire the Mont Blanc group, which only peeps out at the pass.The descent takes place on the same route as the ascent, with a stop at the refuge where you can refresh yourself with Valle d'Aosta delicacies.

Services in the surroundings

General services

Ollomont Town Hall

Ollomont 1.853 m

Sport

Cross-country ski run Ollomont

Ollomont 1.851 m

Tourist services

Baby Snow Park "Ollomont"

Ollomont 1.925 m

Indoor Climbing - Maison Grimpe

Ollomont 1.711 m

L'Envers Riding School (C/O Bar Olga)

Ollomont 1.761 m

Mines of Ollomont-Valpelline

Ollomont 1.755 m

Ollomont Ski Resort

Ollomont 1.878 m

Picnic area "Belvedere" - Doues

Doues 1.283 m

Point of interest presentation image: Picnic area

Rental "Bar 21"

Ollomont 1.781 m

Point of interest presentation image: Rental

Where to eat

Da Olga Bar Alimentari

Ollomont 1.807 m

Delle miniere

Ollomont 1.681 m

La Taverne

Ollomont 1.983 m

Where to sleep

Dortoir de Ollomont

Ollomont 1.794 m

La Grandze de François

Les Vieux Alpages

Letey a Champillon

R.T.A. Mont Gelé

Nearby attractions

Churches and Sanctuaries

Parish Church of St. Augustine

Ollomont 1.888 m

Weather service by the RAVA Functional Centre

Open the site of the Functional Centre of the Aosta Valley Region

Avalanche bulletin by Aineva

Open the Aineva website

Reviews

30/06/2026

climbandtrek

Description

Gita mattutina in solitaria. Percorso in ordine.

Comment

Meteo bello e caldo. Molta gente in giro. più info e foto su climbandtrek.it

More info

Road access: Parcheggio a Plan Debat.

28/05/2026

climbandtrek

Description

Sono salito al rifugio, dove mi sono fermato, al ritorno dal Mont Rond. Sentiero senza neve.

Comment

Nessuno in giro. Avvistato un gallo cedrone nel boschetto sopra il ru de by. più info e foto su climbandtrek.it

More info

Road access: Parcheggio a Plan Debat.

22/11/2025

biella10

Description

Saliti come da descrizione arrivando solo al rifugio (chiuso come anche il locale invernale). Alla Tsa de Champillon, a 2300 metri, abbiamo messo i ramponcini per la presenza di ghiaccio, la neve pero’ continuava ad aumentare. Arrivati al Rifugio ci siamo fermati; siamo scesi alla sinistra orografica andando a trovare il tracciato del “Ru de By”, passando per l’Alpe Pessinoille a 2151 metri e per l’Alpe Champillon a 2057 metri; proseguendo sulla poderale innevata siamo arrivati al parcheggio chiudendo così l’anello.

Comment

Francesca ed Alessandro (CAI/ANA Biella)

More info

Road access: Trovato nella parte finale, prima del parcheggio, una spolverata di neve sulla strada che non ha creato problemi.

17/09/2025

franco1457

Description

Andati al Colle Champillon per vedere il passaggio dei concorrenti del TOR. Pranzato al Rifugio in compagnia di Giovanni e Pier Albino

More info

Road access: ok

06/09/2025

flavytiny

Description

Meteo spaziale temperatura gradevole x camminare. Gita breve ma bella a Plan Debat park x molte auto con chiosco prezzi ok. Al fondo del park palina x il rifugio Champillon Letey dietro il rif. il sentiero prosegue fino al colle poco prima si puo deviare a sinistra e salire al Croux de la Bleinze . Visione impagabile verso il M.Bianco. e la Conca di By con le sue gite sci alpinistiche spettacolari fatte a suo tempo Col de Valsorey-Tete de By-Tete Blanche- Tete du Filon e di fronte il Gelé(1736)

More info

Road access: Buono molti tornanti ma ottimamente asfaltata fino al park di Pian Debat.

29/08/2025

climbandtrek

Description

Oltre il rifugio il sentiero è per brevi tratti un pò eroso dall’acqua.

Comment

Gita mordi e fuggi mattutina. Incrociati molti escursionisti che salivano. Oggi da solo. più info e foto su climbandtrek.it

More info

Road access: Parcheggio a Plan Debat.

15/07/2025

franco1457

Description

Oggi la meta era un’altra ma le nuvole persistenti ci hanno consigliato di cambiare itinerario. Siamo così saliti al Rifugio Letey e al Colle di Champillon. Giornata variabile con sole a sprazzi e venticello freddo. Panorama un po’ limitato.

Comment

Diversi escursionisti fino al rifugio ma pochi al colle. In compagnia di Sergio e Graziella.

More info

Road access: ok

09/07/2025

priscilla

Description

Salita veloce al colle e discesa altrettanto rapida. Al colle tirava un bel vento freddo. Era sufficiente la maglia, ma ho preferito non fermarmi. Tanta gente al rifugio.