Skimo

Col de Menouve from Prailles

Details

Prailles

Departure location

Etroubles

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

3.0

Rating

1.210 m

Ascent vertical drop

3h 15m

Ascent time

Description

Services in the surroundings

CARREFOUR

Etroubles 1.183 m

Food and Tobacco of Crippa Stefano (C/O Marronners)

Etroubles 1.033 m

Nearby attractions

Château Verdun

Saint-Oyen 1.880 m

Vachéry Tower

Etroubles 702 m

Reviews

20/12/2025

maxbiaset

Description

Innevamento nel complesso sufficiente. Nella parte alta buon innevamento con bella neve farinosa. Nel tratto mediano versanti con solo pochi cm di neve fresca, bisogna cercare avvallamenti e dorsali dove c’è un buon fondo, abbastanza ben riconoscibili. Anche in mezzo ai larici si riesce a sciare discretamente. Strada innevata fino al parcheggio. Oggi solo il nostro gruppo (13). Nessun altro sci alpinista.

Comment

Gita alternativa ma comunque appagante.

More info

Road access: Nessun problema. Nel parcheggio ci sono pochi posti.

Upper section snow: Powder

Lower section snow: Wet Powder

Snow altitude: 1500

Equipment: Skimo equipment

Details

Prailles

Departure location

Etroubles

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

3h 15m

Ascent time

1.559 m

Starting elevation

2.768 m

Arrival elevation

1.210 m

Ascent vertical drop

7.060 m

Total length

Jan - Feb - Dec

Best period

medium

Crowding

3.0

Rating

Overview

This itinerary proposes the ascent of the Vallon de Menouve by retracing the famous off-piste route that, in years past, was popular especially with Swiss skiers as they could reach the pass by cable car and had a return by organized shuttles.
Today the lifts are no longer in operation but the route has retained all its positive features that made it fairly well known. The route is entirely south facing therefore always sunny.
The climb is divided into two parts, the first in the lower part of the valley has no particular gradients then, from the Menovy alpine pasture the slope sharpens a little before entering the splendid final amphitheater in front of the border coast.
From the pass, one can appreciate beautiful views of the Vallée d'Entremont below and, from the Italian side, unusual glimpses of the not-too-distant Mont Velan.
The descent is on the same slope with no particular route obligations.

Reaching the start

From the Aosta East tollbooth, take the tunnel leading into the Great St. Bernard Valley and continue along it, passing the villages of Gignod and Etroubles. Just before Saint-Oyen turn right, following the signs for Prailles. Go up the municipal road for about 4km until you reach the small village of Prailles dessous, the starting point of the itinerary. Park in the small parking lot in the hamlet.

The route

From Prailles dessous take the farm road that starts from the last houses of the village and begin to climb the Vallon de Menouve keeping its orographic right.
After 1.5 km a couple of hairpin bends allow you to gain some altitude before reaching the junction to Ponteilles dessous, which should be neglected. Continue on the slope passing near the Menovy alpine pasture until the first hairpin bend.
Continue with a half-slope section, to be covered only in optimal snowpack conditions before flowing onto the central part of the valley.
Continue climbing steep slopes until reaching the wide basin, leaving on the left the alpine pasture of Tsa Nouva 2368 m sometimes buried by snow. The pass is now in sight but to reach it you must cross the terminal part of its southern slope.
Progress toward the center of the valley and then keep to the right of the small rocks that separate the Tete Rouge from the two Menouve passes.
In the last stretch the slope increases and, without particular difficulty you finally reach the Col de Menouve nord 2768 m, just "trespassed" you meet the structures of the former cable car, now disused.