Sanctuary of the Miserin, from Dondena

Access

Road navigation

At the motorway junction at Pont-Saint-Martin, turn left onto the main road in the direction of Aosta. Continue for 2.2 km (2.2 mi) through the village of Donnas until you reach a roundabout. At the roundabout, take the second exit and continue on the road for 3.0km (5.2km), skirting the Fortress of Bard, until you reach the next roundabout. Take the third exit and take the Valle di Champorcher regional road. Continue on for 14.3km (19.5km), climbing the entire valley and passing through the villages of Hône, Pontboset, before reaching Château, the centre of Champorcher. After passing the main town, turn right and continue for about 7.9 kilometres on the municipal road, first asphalted then unpaved, until reaching the locality of Dondena.

Description of the car park

In the locality of Dondena there is a large car park 🅿️, generally free of charge, located at the end of the road and in direct proximity to the start of the hike. The car park is located on a large dirt forecourt, used as a starting point for itineraries in the upper valley; in the immediate vicinity there are seasonal alpine pasture facilities and information panels.

Access by public transport

To reach the starting point of the itinerary, a private vehicle is necessary, as the village of Dondena is not served by public transport.

Distance and travelling time

🕒 Travelling time: 55 minutes
 📏 Distance: 30.3km

GPS navigation

📍 How to get there with Google Maps
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ℹ️ Important note

 The directions provided have been verified as of the date of the route survey. Before departure, it is recommended to check possible changes in the route or road conditions. Please consult Google Maps or Apple Maps for the latest information.

Description

0h00' 0.00km Leave the car in the clearing adjacent to a large wooden panel bearing the map of the municipality of Champorcher. Proceed downhill towards the Torrent Ayasse, following the dirt road until you reach a signpost.

0h02' 0.1km Neglect the paths downhill towards Chardonney and continue straight on until you reach a hamlet leaning against a rock face. Turn left, cross the Torrent Ayasse on a concrete bridge and begin the ascent. Skirt the ruins of the former Albergo Alpino and some isolated hamlets of Dondena, some of which were set on fire during a Nazi-Fascist reprisal at the end of May 1944. Continue along the road, ignoring a shortcut path, which with a few hairpin bends climbs the alpine pastures dotted with gentians (Gentiana acaulis) and arnica (Arnica montana), until reaching the Dondena Refuge 💧(2186m).

Rescend the pasture with a few bends and then proceed with a hillside climb that leads the hiker to the edge of the east crest of Mont Rascias. A few short bends make it possible to pass a short hump, beyond which you turn sharply to the left, heading west, remaining on a pleasant grassy balcony at the foot of the northern slope of Rascias. With a moderate ascent, one proceeds until encountering the cumbersome pylons that characterise the area; on the right, however, one can fully appreciate the normal ascent route to Mont Glacier (3186m) and the overlooking peak of Mont Delà (3139m). Beyond the pylons, the pasture becomes thinner and the path veers slightly to the left, following the curvature of the Rascias slope. You enter an area with slight rises that are a prelude to the view of the lake, in whose waters is reflected the squat dome of Bec Cotasse (3092m). When you reach the lake, turn right and follow the short path that runs alongside the lake until you reach the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de la Neige and the Miserin hut (2579m) 1h15'.
The return walk follows the same route as the outward journey 0h45' or you can descend along the farm road, path , thus completing a circular route.

Points of Interest

• Dondena Crags
• Torrent Ayasse
• former Albergo Alpino
• Dondena Refuge
• Lake Miserin
• Miserin Refuge
• Miserin Sanctuary
• Mont Avic Park
• Champorcher

Collections

• hikes departing from Dondena - on the map
• hiking in Champorcher - on the map
• hiking in the Champorcher Valley - on the map
• hikes to the Champorcher Valley lakes - on the map
• hiking to the lakes of the Aosta Valley - on the map