Ering: Alpine Trails, Mountain Villages and Culture

The Val d’Hérens stretches from the Rhône Valley near Sion to the foot of the Dent Blanche and the Dent d’Hérens, as well as Mont Collon and Mont Blanc de Cheilon. Old villages with traditional houses lie on the steep slopes. For trip planning, the valley offers very different perspectives: from historic settlements and regional culture to challenging trails in high-mountain terrain.

Landscape and Alpine Trails

The Euseigne earth pyramids are moraine formations 10 to 15 metres high. They formed during the Würm glaciation, around 80,000 to 10,000 years ago, and are protected as natural monuments of national importance. Their geological history gives the landscape a distinctive feature.

The Tour du Val d’Hérens comprises five stages and connects, among other places, the Val d’Hérémence with the Val d’Arolla. On the second stage, the trail initially follows the shore of Lac des Dix, then climbs to the Col de Riedmatten and descends to Arolla. Check alpine conditions before your trip. A challenging alternative for those interested in geology is the 14-kilometre Sentier glaciologique d’Arolla: the route between the Lower and Upper Arolla glaciers is listed as taking seven hours on foot and involving 870 metres of elevation gain.

The Ibex High Trail begins on the Grande Dixence dam, follows the turquoise-blue Lac des Dix and forms a circular hike to the Cabane de Prafleuri at 2,662 metres. Information boards explain the valley’s flora, fauna and history. The trail is open seasonally; check current trail conditions in advance. The Etoile Bike Tour also offers a challenging route: it starts near Les Haudères and climbs steeply to the Chottes de la Niva.

Grande Dixence and Winter Activities

Guided tours of the inside of the Grande Dixence dam and its tunnels are offered, accompanied by a light and sound presentation. The tours are seasonal; check availability before your trip. There are also six climbing routes on the dam. The 700-metre AlpinLine zipline runs along the dam at an altitude of 2,400 metres. Check availability and supervision requirements in advance.

Skiing and snowboarding are also part of the region’s offerings: four ski areas in the Hérens District are associated with them, including Anzère, Arolla and Evolène. These skiing and snowboarding options complement the hiking and cycling tours mentioned in the article.

Villages, Architecture and Culture

In Evolène, the figures of the «peluches» and «empaillés» are part of the Carnaval d’Evolène. Carnival traditions remain very much alive; the programme varies. The Musée d’Evolène presents the culture of Evolène in the 19th and 20th centuries in the original main room of a Valais house dating from 1776. The collection includes objects, tools and traditional costumes relating to local customs, religious life and mountain farming.

The Église d’Hérémence is a remarkable Brutalist building designed by Basel architect Walter Förderer. Admission is free; a sound and light presentation introduces the building’s distinctive features. Visitor arrangements may change, so check before your visit.

Cheese and Summer Experiences

A visit to the Fromagerie d’Hérémence showcases the artisanal cheese-making process, from processing the milk to the finished raclette cheese; afterwards, you can taste the products. Check booking and operating conditions in advance. The summer experience «Au pays des reines» combines a meeting with Hérens cows on their summer pastures, led by a local farmer, with raclette and a glass of Valais wine. Check dates and booking requirements in advance.

Connections to Grande Dixence and the Return Journey from Arolla

Train services run to Sion; from there, connecting PostBus services go to Grande Dixence. From Arolla, the PostBus returns to Sion via Les Haudères. Check SBB and PostBus timetables before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Evolène, Mase, Vex, Les Agettes, Ayent, Les Masses, Vernamiège, Nax, Saint-Martin Vs, Eison, Evolène, Vex.

For the overview of the wider region: Valais.