Col Citrin from Saint-Léonard
Hiking

Col Citrin from Saint-Léonard

We set off along the rural road
The wide path
The ferruginous spring
The Alpe Citrin desòt
The flat upper valley
Grazing steers
A trough
Last stretch before the pass
The valley of Vertosan
Remains of the Salasse huts
The final part of the climb
The mule track in the woods
Hill with a view of Mont Blanc

Details

Le Pont

Departure location

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

Municipality

average

Effort

E

Difficulty

4.5

Rating

1.027 m

Ascent vertical drop

4h 50m

Total time

Description

In addition to the beauty of the hike, the wide Citrin valley allows you to visit two points of special interest: the ferruginous spring and the Salasso village located near Col Citrin.
The ferruginous spring is reached by a small detour of the trail.
Citrin water, classified among the mineral, acidulous and carbonate, alkaline, earthy, cold water, judged to be excellent drinking water and from the bacteriological point of view, practically pure, on clinical and pharmacological experimen...

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Services in the surroundings

Nearby attractions

Reviews

24/08/2025
albert61
Description

Giornata splendida con clima gradevole, solo un pò d’aria al colle. Salito in compagnia di mia moglie che non era mai stata quassù e di mia figlia che ci ha accompagnati solo fino alla sorgente. Prima sosta alla sorgente del Citrin per assaggiare l’acqua, sosta pranzo all’ultimo alpeggio a cui è seguita la salita al colle con visita ai resti del villaggio salasso. Consigliato proseguire verso questi resti perchè in questa maniera si ha la possibilità di ammirare la cima del Monte Bianco che spunta dalla cresta che porta alla Testa di Serena e si scorge pure il bivacco Bredy. Oggi incontrati solo altri 2 escursionisti

More info

Road access: piccolo parcheggio con 5 posti alla partenza

05/10/2024
biella10
Description

Partiti da Pont/San Leonardo di Saint-Rhemy en Bosess su n. 8 che poi diventa 8D ed ancora 8. Arrivati al Colle con un po’ di ghiaccio sul sentiero nella parte finale; alla partenza c’erano quattro gradi. Francesca ed Alessandro (CAI Biella).

Comment

Percorso in parte in ombra. Non siamo andati alla Sorgente Citrin, deviazione fatta altre volte; la storia ad essa legata è descritta anche all'inizio del sentiero.

More info

Road access: Nessun problema fino al piccolo parcheggio a Pont.

Details

Le Pont

Departure location

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

Municipality

average

Effort

E

Difficulty

3h 0m

Ascent time

1h 50m

Descent time

4h 50m

Total time

1.466 m

Starting elevation

2.492 m

Arrival elevation

1.027 m

Ascent vertical drop

10.100 m

Total length

8

Signposts

Jun - Jul - Aug

Best period

medium

Crowding

4.5

Rating

Overview

In addition to the beauty of the hike, the wide Citrin valley allows you to visit two points of special interest: the ferruginous spring and the Salasso village located near Col Citrin.
The ferruginous spring is reached by a small detour of the trail.
Citrin water, classified among the mineral, acidulous and carbonate, alkaline, earthy, cold water, judged to be excellent drinking water and from the bacteriological point of view, practically pure, on clinical and pharmacological experimentation has been shown to have digestive and diuretic properties and to act favorably in cases of stubborn constipation and anemia, provided that the intake is made directly at the source.
The village Salasso is located five minutes from the pass, on the Vertosan side, along the path leading to Mont Flassin. The remains of a dozen or so huts can still be clearly seen; a little further down a protective wall is also visible.

Reaching the start

From the Aosta East tollbooth take the tunnel leading into the Great Saint Bernard valley and continue along it passing the villages of Gignod, Etroubles and Saint-Oyen.
Just before the old tunnel barrier turn right, right again for a small stretch and then turn left in the direction of the church of Saint-Léonard and pass it.
You continue downhill passing the houses of Le Pont until you find, on the right, a small parking lot, at a small bridge on the left, where you leave the car.

The route

From the parking lot at Le Pont, cross the bridge over the Artanavaz stream and follow the rural road on the left for a stretch.
After about a hundred meters take the mule track on the right, bordered by two stone walls that leads to Alpe Meriby, and go up into the woods until you cross the rural road.
Follow it to the left until almost its end where on the right begins the path that, with steep turns, climbs into the woods.
At a certain point deviate to the right and shortly reach the ferruginous spring.
Returning to the path, continue along the wooded rib until you come out into the wide upper slopes, a short stretch and you reach the Citrin-di-Meiten Alp 2012 m.
The path now flattens out decisively and over very wide pastures you reach the Citrin-Damon Alp 2312 m.
There follows a flat section and then the last slope that leads to the wide pass (recognizable from afar because of the presence of high voltage pylons) from which one overlooks the beautiful Vertosan valley that descends toward Avise.
Just before the pass, a path branches off to the left that in a few minutes leads to the small Lac de Citrin.
To see the village Salasso, it is necessary to head left along the ridge that leads to Mont Flassin. At this point, about ten hut remains are visible, some with only a stone base and others with somewhat higher walls.
If you follow the path down into the Vertosan valley, after about 50 meters of elevation gain, you will find the remains of a wall that protected the village.

Services in the surroundings

Business activities

General services

Sport

Tourist services

Where to eat

Where to sleep

Weather service by the RAVA Functional Centre

Avalanche bulletin by Aineva

Reviews

24/08/2025
albert61
Description

Giornata splendida con clima gradevole, solo un pò d’aria al colle. Salito in compagnia di mia moglie che non era mai stata quassù e di mia figlia che ci ha accompagnati solo fino alla sorgente. Prima sosta alla sorgente del Citrin per assaggiare l’acqua, sosta pranzo all’ultimo alpeggio a cui è seguita la salita al colle con visita ai resti del villaggio salasso. Consigliato proseguire verso questi resti perchè in questa maniera si ha la possibilità di ammirare la cima del Monte Bianco che spunta dalla cresta che porta alla Testa di Serena e si scorge pure il bivacco Bredy. Oggi incontrati solo altri 2 escursionisti

More info

Road access: piccolo parcheggio con 5 posti alla partenza

05/10/2024
biella10
Description

Partiti da Pont/San Leonardo di Saint-Rhemy en Bosess su n. 8 che poi diventa 8D ed ancora 8. Arrivati al Colle con un po’ di ghiaccio sul sentiero nella parte finale; alla partenza c’erano quattro gradi. Francesca ed Alessandro (CAI Biella).

Comment

Percorso in parte in ombra. Non siamo andati alla Sorgente Citrin, deviazione fatta altre volte; la storia ad essa legata è descritta anche all'inizio del sentiero.

More info

Road access: Nessun problema fino al piccolo parcheggio a Pont.

Nearby routes (<2 km)

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Last update

30 April 2025, 15:09