Rothorn Pass, from Staffal

Introduction

A pleasant, panoramic hike on the left-hand side of the upper Lys valley. The ascent to the Rothorn Pass is divided into two distinct parts: the first is fairly tedious and takes place on a dirt track as far as Sitte, while the second is on a beautiful path up the Saler valley among pleasant streams, beautiful views of the Rosa massif and the splendid little lakes before the pass. In just under three hours, therefore, you can make a beautiful hike with many highlights: not to be missed!

Description

From the Stafal car park, climb briefly up the small tarmac road until you reach a signpost near a fountain: go straight on following the signs for our destination, climbing briefly up a small road that leads to a residence where you turn left onto a dirt track. Having skirted the chapel dedicated to the Madonna delle Nevi, the track begins to climb up the slope, immersing itself in the larch woodland that affords interesting views of Castore, Lyskamm and the glacial mass of the Lys Glacier. The track twists and turns until it leaves the forest near the isolated Trele farmhouse (2031m, 0h35'). The track now loses its slope and heads south, following the sinuosity of the slope until reaching a beautiful renovated farmhouse near the junction for the Sant'Anna Chapel (2181m, 1h00'). Disregard the crossroads and turn right up the track, now with a steeper slope, that passes near two cottages and passes under the cableway to Bettaforca until you come to a marker: turn left and take the path that soon reaches a footbridge and stretches out onto a short, damp plain. Climb up the slope with a comfortable, well-maintained path along the Tour du Mont Rose route; with a beautiful ascending diagonal, you approach the Saler valley with beautiful stepped sections of path in the sight of the north face of the Rothorn. Slowly turn right until you reach a beautiful plateau on which you comfortably wade across the Saler stream (Saleròbach) to its orographic left. A few bends allow you to gain further altitude until you reach the first of the Saler lakes (2,627m, 2h 20'). Keep to the left of the lake and with a short ascent reach the second lake (2633m, 2h25'); from here, the pass is clearly in view: a short, fairly steep climb leads to the Rothorn pass (2687m, 2h45'). The return trip follows the same route as the outward journey (1h35').