To reach the Inn
Salanfe is located in the Canton of Valais in Switzerland, between the Trient valley and the peaks of the Dents du Midi. It can only be reached on foot. There are four different passes (Jorat, Susanfe, Emaney and Golette) which lead to the mountain inn.
The shortest route
From Van d’en Haut, a hamlet situated just above the village of Salvan – Les Marécottes, you can reach Salanfe in 1½ hours.
There are two ways to reach this departure point:
To Salanfe Moutain Inn by car
Exit the A9 Motorway at Martigny and follow the signs for Salvan. Once in Salvan, follow the sign Vallon de Van and continue until you reach the campground in Van d’en Haut. Go over the small wooden bridge on your left and keep driving up to the clearing, where you can leave your car.
From this point, count on 1½-2 hours walk to reach the inn.
To Salanfe Mountain Inn by train
From Martigny’s main station, take the Mont-Blanc Express up to Salvan. From there, count on 3 ½ hours walk to reach the inn. Alternatively, take the bus which will take you to the campground of Van d’en Haut. From there, it is only 1½ -2 hours’ walk to the inn.
Hike from Salvan to Salanfe
Hike from Salvan to Salanfe, via the Dailley Gorge
Routes from the carpark to Salanfe Mountain Inn
From the carpark above the Van d’en Haut campground, there are two possible trails, which cross each other along the way.
The Walking Trail
This route is picturesque and offers a lot of variety. After the spot known as the Maraiche, where the trail and the road cross, there are some quite steep flights of stairs which will take you up in altitude quickly. The trail then crosses the other route, the old access road, once again.
Van d’en Haut – Salanfe via the Walking Trail
The Old Road (beware, greater risk of rock falls)
This route to the Salanfe lake dates from the construction of the dam. The path is wider than the walking trail and allows you to avoid the stairs. It is however more exposed to rock falls and should definitely be avoided in case of heavy rain.
Van d’en Haut – Salanfe via the Old Road
We recommend taking the trail to begin with, then crossing over to the old road until you reach the dam, which allows you to avoid the stairs.
Train Timetable : www.cff.ch
Bus Timetable Salvan – Les Marécottes – Van d’en Haut : Bus Salvan – Van d’en Haut 2023
Cablecar Timetable Les Marécottes – La Creusaz : open from 10 June to 22 October 2023 , from 9am to 1.20pm (last pick-up) and from 2pm to 5pm. More information: TéléMarécottes SA