Sport: Bionaz

Altitude: 3,740 m
Location: Colle del Cors
Sleeping places: 6
Open: always open
from Valpelline:
Difficulty: PD
Trail sign: no
Ascent: 3h from Biv. Tête des Roeses
from Valtournenche:
Difficulty: D
Trail sign: no
Ascent: 5h from Bivouac Balestreri
Coordinates UTM - WGS84: EAST 391694
Coordinates UTM- WGS84: NORTH 5089502

The bivouac, inaugurated in 1994, is dedicated to the memory of Achille Ratti who became Pope Pius XI (from 1922 to 1939). The mountaineer Pope in 1889 was the protagonist of the first Italian ascent of Monte Rosa starting from Macugnaga, reaching Punta Dufour and descending to Zermatt.

Altitude: 2,530 m
Location: Luseney- Becca di Luseney area 3,503 m
Sleeping places: 16
Open: always open
Difficulty: E
Trail sign: 14
Ascent: 2h45

The bivouac, inaugurated in 2010, is dedicated to Carlo Chentre, mayor of Bionaz from 1974 to 1990 and president of the local ski club, and to Ettore Bionaz, mountaineer, mountain guide, pioneer of mountain rescue in Valpelline and avalanche dog handler. He was the first guardian of the Crête Sèche refuge and mayor of Bionaz from 1970 to 1974, he tragically died on 24 July 1985 on the Mont Cerf glacier.

Access:
Park your car at the side of the road that leads to the Place Moulin dam and descend along the dirt track following the signs for the Chentre-Bionaz Bivouac and the Praz de Dieu alpine pasture.
Continue past the houses of La Ferrère and Pouillayes, then cross the bridge over the Buthier stream and after the chapel and the ruins of a house take the path going up in the wood alternating flat stretches with gently sloping ones. Cross the wooden gate that stands in the path and continue as far as a bifurcation close to the torrent. Leave the path that goes up into the Comba di Montagnayes and turn left following n° 14 that climbs to the small pass. The trail descends in the Comba des Arbières valley, crosses the Arbières torrent and continues towards the ruins of the alpine pasture Praz de Dieu. During the month of July the red flowers of the rhododendrons and the white ones of the paradise lilies stand out in the alpine meadows.
Above the Praz de Dieu pasture homes the trail enters the Mont Dzalou valley and beneath the shadow of a large rocky wall it rises steeply with sharp bends reaching the small pass and after a dozen metres along the ridge, you come to the Chentre-Bionaz Bivouac.
Inside and on the façade you can admire some works by the Dutch artist Arjen Bakermans.

Equipment: blankets, lighting, cooking material, stream water.

Altitude: 3,320 m
Location: Col du Créton
Sleeping places: 9
Open: always open
from Valpèelline:
Difficulty: AD
Trail sign: no
Ascent: 5h from Place Moulin
from Valtournenche:
Difficulty: AD
Trail sign: no
Ascent: 3h from Bobba Bivouac
Coordinates UTM-EAST WGS84: EAST 390389
Coordinates UTM- WGS84: NORTH 5086364

NOTES: from Valtournenche mountaineering itinerary requiring climbing equipment (rope, harness, snap hooks, helmet, etc.), experience and training.

Altitude: 3,290 m
Location: Cresta del Morion (Bionaz, Valpelline) between Punta Gaia and Becca Crevaye
Sleeping places: 8
Open: always open
Difficulty: alpinistic AD+/D-
Trail sign: no
Ascent: 5/6h from Crête Sèche Mountain hut (or Regondi Bivouac).

The bivouac, inaugurated in 2018, was dedicated by the Pasqualetti from Cascina (PI) to the memory of their son Luca, a mountain lover, who died in the Apuan Alps in May 2014.

Access:
From Crête Sèche hut ( 2.410 m.) follow the path to Col of Mont Gélé; at about 3.000 m. a.s.l. leave the path and head southwest towards Becca Faudery. A short section of glacier and mixed (variable conditions depending on the season) will lead to the summit of Becca Faudery. From here on, climb the ridge southwards, constantly very exposed, alternating sections with good quality rock to much more movable and unstable ones, descending until Col Bonacossa. Climbing up from here you will find the hardest part (a 5th grade passage) of the way to the Becca Crevaye, and then to the bivouac. Bolts in the most difficult points.

Equipment: matresses, blankets, first aid kit, small solar panel for lighting.

Altitude: 3,572 m
Location: Colle Budden
Sleeping places: 9
Open: always open
from Valpelline:
Difficulty: PD
Trail sign: no
Ascent: 2h30 from the Biv. Tête des Roeses
from Valtournenche:
Difficulty: D
Trail sign: no
Ascent: 3h from Bivouac Bobba
Coordinates UTM- WGS84: EAST 390752
Coordinates UTM -WGS84: NORTH 5088326

The bivouac, inaugurated in 1974, is dedicated to Paolo Perelli Cippo (1912-1974), director of Campari, in love with Valtournenche. Perelli, who was deprived of an arm lost in the African War, made many ascents with the Pellissier mountain guides.

Altitude: 2,600 m
Location: Combe de Crête Sèche
Sleeping places: 9
Open: always open
Difficulty: E
Trail sign: 2
Ascent: 1h from the Crête Sèche Refuge
Coordinates UTM-WGS84: EAST 375421
Coordinates UTM-WGS84: NORTH 5082988

Notes: bivouac has not been used much since the construction of the Crête Sèche refuge close by.

Access:
From the Crête Sèche refuge carry on up the path that goes up the right side of the valley and reaches the bottom of the crag. By following the path trail on stony ground, carry on up and it will take you, once you turn left, in the direction of Plan de la Sabbla where the bivouac is located.

Equipment: blankets and water in the river.

Altitude: 3,160 m
Location: Tête des Roeses
Sleeping places: 15
Open: always open
Difficulty: PD
Trail sign: no
Ascent: 5h30 from Place Moulin
Coordinates UTM -WGS84: EAST 389737
Coordinates UTM - WGS84: NORTH 5089621

Adventure park on rock and trees. Its position on a promontory at an altitude of 1,700 meters makes it unique for the views you can enjoy while its pulleys 120 meters long and 30 meters high will make you imagine how eagles feel.

In addition to the adventure park you can relax on the “Elisir Rebelle” panoramic terrace.

Routes:

1. “Path of the Hares” | Yellow - Easy
Climbing gym, 1 net, 1 pulley (40 m), 1 barrel.
Age: 4-8 years.
Minimum height: 100 cm
Duration: 10 minutes.
Price: € 10.00 per hour.

2. “Route of the Ibex” | Red - Medium Difficulty
26 games, 6 pulleys (maximum length 120 m and height 25 m).
Age: 8-80 years (8-11 accompanied by an adult).
Minimum height: 130 cm.
Duration: 1 and a half hours.
Price: € 20.00 (€ 15.00 second tour - € 10.00 third tour)

3. “ Route of the Marmot” | Blue - Easy
Age: 8-80 years (8-11 years accompanied by an adult).
Minimum height: 130 cm.
Duration: 1 hour.
Price: € 15.00 (€ 10.00 second tour - € 5.00 third tour)

4. “Route of the Eagles” | Blue - Medium Difficulty
1 suspension bridge, 6 pulleys (maximum length 120 m and height 25 m).
Age: 8-80 years (8-11 years accompanied by an adult).
Minimum height: 130 cm.
Price: € 15.00 (€ 10.00 second tour - € 10.00 third tour)

Open on week ends June and October / daily from 1 July to 31 August

In the locality of Lexert, near the campsite, a small area equipped with winter games has been set up: a small house, skittles for a bobsled course, a toboggan run.
Bobsleighs and sledges are not provided.

Bionaz, the last of the municipalities in the Valpelline, is a tourist resort with excellent cross-country skiing facilities, well away from the crowds. The resort offers splendid trails, suitable for skiers of all levels. The Dzovennoz-Lexert run is composed of a main loop of 5 km long and is equipped with a biathlon shooting range that offers the chance to shoot from 10 or from 50’ metres. These routes take skiers through woodlands and plateaus, around lakes and through magical scenery, and all your efforts will be amply repaid.

1,5 km loop - easy

2 km loop - easy
3 km loop - medium
5 km loop - difficult

Tickets: automatic desk at Loc. Lexert

Consult the snow report to find out which cross-country trails are open.