Hiking

Nacamuli Refuge and Col Collon from Place Moulin Dam

The beautiful glacial lake of Col Collon

Alpe Grand Oren, at the beginning of the valley.

The section equipped with steps and fixed ropes

The moraine valley of ascent to Col Collon

Details

Place Moulin Dam

Departure location

Bionaz

Municipality

challenging

Effort

Difficulty

4.6

Rating

1.266 m

Ascent vertical drop

7h 0m

Total time

Description

Services in the surroundings

Lac Place Moulin

Bionaz 519 m

Lac Place Moulin

Bionaz 519 m

Nearby attractions

Place Moulin Dam

Bionaz 47 m

Reviews

19/10/2025

garaca

Description

Bella escursione al rifugio con i primi colori autunnali. Sentiero ben tenuto e ottimamente segnato.

Comment

Sgambatona mattutina con gli amici Teo e Gigi.

More info

Road access: ok

20/06/2025

chopin

Description

Dalla diga si può anche salire sempre sentiero 8 che sale dopo circa 200 mt sulla poderale che porta a Prarayer , oppure continuare per Prarayer fino alla Chiesetta da li a sx si congiunge con lil sentiero 8 . uno dei valloni più belli ,sempre a fianco dello spumeggiante torrente d’Oren, gita con poco disl. ma con importante sviluppo.

More info

Road access: ok

Details

Place Moulin Dam

Departure location

Bionaz

Municipality

challenging

Effort

Difficulty

4h 10m

Ascent time

2h 50m

Descent time

7h 0m

Total time

1.980 m

Starting elevation

3.080 m

Arrival elevation

1.266 m

Ascent vertical drop

20.700 m

Total length

Signposts

Jul - Aug

Best period

medium

Crowding

4.6

Rating

Overview

The Alessandro Nacamuli Refuge is located in the Comba d'Oren, and will offer an excursion in one of the wildest and most uncontaminated environments of the upper Valpelline.This is a recently built refuge (1994) that has flanked the historic Col Collon structure dating back to 1928.Excursion quite challenging for its length, and which has a section equipped with steps and metal ropes to facilitate the ascent; to enjoy the environment more, it is advisable to stay overnight at the refuge.The ascent to Col Collon, with additional effort of about an hour, will allow you to get to see the wonderful glacial lake with blue waters as well as overlook the panorama that gives the Swiss side with the Vierge 3230 m, the Punta Kurz 3496 m and on the Evêque 3716 m

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 SR28 of Valpelline, reaching the capital.Continue on the SR28 passing Oyace and Bionaz, then continue to the end of the road at the Place Moulin Dam, where there are numerous paid parking lots.

The route

From the parking lot of the Place Moulin dam, follow the dirt road that runs along the lake for about 500 m, until you reach the trail sign for trail no.8, which climbs among sparse larches gaining altitude until you reach a beautiful plateau with grandiose views featuring the Arp Pessaou and Bas Oren huts.Near the latter you reach a junction: continue left on trail no.8 neglecting the one that descends to Rifugio Prarayer on the right.You will quickly reach Alpe Praz Mondzu Damon and just beyond it Alpe Grand Oren where the valley of ascent to Comba d'Oren begins.Follow the path that initially keeps to the left of the stream, then cross it over a wooden bridge near a ruined alpine pasture (Alpe Garda). After a false flat, start climbing up the ridge of scree and grass and then reach a bottleneck with a characteristic passage next to a boulder, after which a wide grassy valley ploughed by numerous streams opens up.Continue to the right, still following the course of the gorge for a short distance, except then abandoning it to begin a steep ascent up a modest crag of rocks and grassy terraces, equipped with metal steps and some fixed ropes that facilitate the ascent.At the end of this crag a plateau and a small bridge lead below the Nacamuli Shelter 2828 m, clearly visible on the left. Go up again on the track that winds through the scree, and then continue left on the short path that leads to the hut. To reach Col Collon instead, from the hut return to the previous junction and continue toward the head of the gorge, following the good path through scree first, and over a rocky band later.Having passed this crag you will find the beautiful glacial lake of Col Collon, which in early summer may still be partially covered with snow.The actual Col Collon can be reached by going around the lake on the left via a convenient path, and is marked by a distinctive metal cross.