Hiking

Praperiaz from Roisan

Details

Roisan

Departure location

Roisan

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

3.0

Rating

943 m

Ascent vertical drop

4h 0m

Total time

Description

Services in the surroundings

Chez Duclos

Gignod 1.364 m

Counseling in Variney

Gignod 1.355 m

Nearby attractions

Casaforte Caravex

Gignod 1.257 m

Medieval tower

Gignod 1.357 m

Reviews

01/05/2025

priscilla

Description

La salita lungo il sentiero 1b presenta diversi alberi caduti superabili in modo più o meno agevole. All’arrivo a Praperiaz ci siamo goduti un panorama bellissimo. La discesa sul sentiero n. 1 inizialmente sembrava più semplice, ma in seguito il numero di alberi caduti è aumentato in maniera esponenziale rendendo il rientro molto molto impegnativo.

More info

Road access: Partiti dal parcheggio davanti alla scuola primaria di Le Crestaz

Details

Roisan

Departure location

Roisan

Municipality

average

Effort

Difficulty

2h 30m

Ascent time

1h 30m

Descent time

4h 0m

Total time

850 m

Starting elevation

1.737 m

Arrival elevation

943 m

Ascent vertical drop

8.500 m

Total length

Ascent signposts

Descent signposts

Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct

Best period

low

Crowding

3.0

Rating

Overview

Praperiaz is a grazing plateau with some alpine pastures, located on the hill overlooking Roisan, on the slopes of the west side of the Becca di Roisan.It is extremely panoramic, a real balcony over the Valley of the Great St. Bernard, the Valley of Ollomont as well as the Aosta basin with the high peaks of the Rutor and Grivola area.The route is of medium difficulty and is suitable for all hikers with a minimum of training.It takes place within a forest, sometimes dense, which guarantees a cool climate even on the hottest days; in autumn the foliage will give added value to the itinerary.Thanks to the low attendance, it will not be difficult to meet the animals that populate the undergrowth such as squirrels and maybe even a fox, and to be accompanied by birdsong.

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, following it for 5 km.Reaching the locality Rhins, immediately afterwards turn right with a sharp bend reaching in 2 km the village of Roisan. Continue until you see high above the road the church, leave the car in the parking lot on the right before the town hall.

The route

From the parking lot walk up to the beautiful parish church of San Vittore, following the cobbled alley between the houses of the small historic center on the left of the building, until you cross just above the Ru Pompillard dirt road. Follow it to the right for a few tens of meters until you reach the houses of Cretaz, where you follow the paved road on the left until you pass the first hairpin bend, where we find the signpost for trail 1B to Praperiaz.We climb to the left along an initially paved track bordered by a retaining wall, which soon becomes dirt and ends near a small hydroelectric power plant.The trail continues eastward entering the forest, which at first is sparse and gives way to frequent panoramic views despite the modest elevation.The cobblestone mule track climbs with a good gradient, crossing a dirt road not far from Pointier, a pretty votive shrine can be seen on the left that is worth reaching, very scenic point 1148 m.The ascent resumes in the cool forest, which now becomes thicker and very suggestive for the presence of areas entirely covered with mosses and lichens; you cross the previous dirt road twice more, passing Fontillon chalet 1408 m with another votive pillar and then the houses of Méanaz 1537 m with a small meadow in front.You enter the last section of forest, passing near a stream with a rudimentary fountain, and finally reach the dirt road coming from Blavy.Following it northward in a few moments you arrive at the Praperiaz chalets 1737 m, whose surrounding meadows in the summer are populated by herds of grazing cows.A stop is a must to admire the vast panorama offered by this natural balcony.The route resumes just beyond the fountain of the alpine pasture, where you follow path no.1 left, which continues slightly downhill through meadows with a long traverse. At a junction, continue on the path to the right, which with rapid ascent leads to the Rond hut 1747 m, from where the path resumes its descent into the forest, passing in the vicinity of Rachaou 1628 m.Here the route changes direction, and continues southward, down a moderately steep descent, touching on some now ruined huts always in the forest, before arriving at the houses of Gorrey, one of the high hamlets of Roisan. All that remains is to follow the paved road that passes through Chaumè then via the path that runs alongside the cemetery, you reach an area just above the parish church, where the trail ends.