Via Alpina, Stage 19/20

From Rossinière via a bridge dating back to 1650 to the Col de Solomon. After the descent to the Hongrin Valley, the ascent to the Col de Chaude with superb views of Lake Geneva awaits. From there, the route continues uphill to the intermediate station of the Rochers de Naye cogwheel railway.

From the Rossinière stop, the hike initially leads out of the village. Nearby lies Lac du Vernex, a reservoir on the Sarine that sets the scene at the start of the route through the valley. The trail then climbs across open meadows and pastures, repeatedly enters the forest and soon gives way to narrower mountain paths. The long ascent is broken up by short counter-climbs and descents; by the finish, the total elevation gain amounts to around 1,850 metres.

In the final third, the Col de Chaude takes centre stage. From the pass, the route continues directly through open terrain. The mountain path steepens sharply once more, reaching the hike’s highest point at just under 2,000 metres shortly before the finish. The limestone massif of the Rochers de Naye now lies directly ahead. After around 19 km and a little over seven and a half hours, the hike ends at Rochers de Naye, near the Rochers-de-Naye stop.