Valeille, from Lillaz

Access

At the motorway junction of Aosta West, turn right and take the regional road for the Cogne valley. Drive through the village of Aymavilles and, after 1.3 kilometres, take the second exit at the roundabout. Go up the regional road for 19 kilometres, passing the villages of Vieyes, Epinel and Crétaz, until you reach a roundabout: take the second exit, following the signs for Lillaz. Continue on the communal road for about one kilometre until you come to another roundabout; go straight on for another 1.8 kilometres until you reach the large car park  🅿️ in Lillaz, made up of three sections: the car parks closest to the start of the paths are pay-parking, the central ones are free, and the furthest away are for motorhomes.

[0h32'] - [24.0km]
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The directions provided have been carefully checked as of the date the route was taken. However, it is highly recommended to check for any changes that may have occurred since then, especially regarding the route to the starting point. Before embarking on your journey, it is advisable to consult up-to-date navigation tools for accurate and up-to-date directions. We recommend the use of satellite navigation apps, such as Google Maps or Apple Maps, to ensure the most accurate and safe route.

Introduction

Welcome to the ice park! This is how this valley in the Cogne district is defined, where some of the most interesting icefalls in the Alps are located. The snowshoe walk, very suitable for beginners, allows you to enjoy the spectacle of the rich circus of waterfalls.

Description

Leaving the car park, you immediately come across a signpost indicating the path to the Valeille. You take a track, bordered by a palisade and almost always beaten. After a few minutes, you enter the fir forest and begin to climb a short slope with a couple of hairpin bends until you reach the cross-country track. We turn right, following the cross-country track, and enter the wild Valeille. Passing the turnoff for the Lillaz waterfalls, continue along the track until you come to a specific snowshoe trail marker, turn left following the summer trail until you rejoin the cross-country track near a small wooden bridge crossing the Valeille stream (1693m, 0h15').
After crossing the bridge and moving to the orographic left of the stream, go up the cross-country track that forms the route of the Marcia Gran Paradiso, taking care not to step on the beaten track. The trail skirts the stream while on the rocky sides of the valley, the crystalline mantles of the frozen waterfalls stretch out: very popular with ice climbers.
A little further on a large erratic boulder, you reach the first small dam that cuts the stream in two (1710m, 0h25'). Continue following the track for a little while until you reach its turning point: you have to go decisively to the right of the valley to continue straight ahead with a passage on the edge of the frozen stream. Always on a very slight incline, continue along the valley, admiring the splendid waterfalls until reaching the second dam (1757 m, 0h45') that cuts across the frozen torrent. One crosses it, taking the orographic right of the stream to then begin the descent and enjoy the view of the frozen cirque from a different perspective. One descends the valley, keeping between the stream and the slope below the rocks, in front of us stands Mont Creya with the Colonna mine below. We quickly return to the first dam and finally rejoin the outward route. After crossing the cross-country ski track, follow the signs to cut straight across until you reach the snow-covered pastures ahead of Lillaz: return to the path and finally reach the starting point (1628m, 1h30').

Because of the site's particularity, it is advisable to take binoculars with you to watch the ice climbers at work "up close".