Snowshoe trekking
Parcours Bretaye–Villars
Villars, Bouquetins–Col de Soud–Villars
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Parcours Bretaye–Villars
Villars, Bouquetins–Col de Soud–Villars
A fantastic snowshoe trail starting in Bouquetins, accessible from Villars via cogwheel railway. Along the way: many stretches of forest, the Maison de Montagne de Bretaye founded by General Guisan, and a unique backdrop with Mont Blanc and the Vaud Alps.
Villars basks on a sunlit terrace with a southern exposure, high above the Rhone Valley. The cogwheel railway takes you from the resort, in the heart of the Vaud Alps, to the second-last stop, Bouquetins. The setting for the start of this snowshoe trek: Mont Blanc, the Dents du Midi and all of the Vaud Alps.
Shortly afterwards, you pass the Maison de Montagne de Bretaye, a former military accommodation. Founded by General Guisan (1874-1960), it hosted military schools and training facilities for decades. The site now houses a hotel and restaurant. The trail takes you around the building, following the ridge, and then descends into the forest along two hairpin bends. After the forest path, you cross the rail track. You follow the track for some way, past the Auberge Col de Soud with the station of the same name.
Another path climbs through the forest and up the ridge here. The road on the left is reserved for sledgers. As soon as the trail has reached its highest point, it zig-zags down through the forest to the junction, level with the railway line. After a few more bends, the hike ends in the Domaine de la Forêt area where you can remove your snowshoes and walk a little further into the centre.
Shortly afterwards, you pass the Maison de Montagne de Bretaye, a former military accommodation. Founded by General Guisan (1874-1960), it hosted military schools and training facilities for decades. The site now houses a hotel and restaurant. The trail takes you around the building, following the ridge, and then descends into the forest along two hairpin bends. After the forest path, you cross the rail track. You follow the track for some way, past the Auberge Col de Soud with the station of the same name.
Another path climbs through the forest and up the ridge here. The road on the left is reserved for sledgers. As soon as the trail has reached its highest point, it zig-zags down through the forest to the junction, level with the railway line. After a few more bends, the hike ends in the Domaine de la Forêt area where you can remove your snowshoes and walk a little further into the centre.
A fantastic snowshoe trail starting in Bouquetins, accessible from Villars via cogwheel railway. Along the way: many stretches of forest, the Maison de Montagne de Bretaye founded by General Guisan, and a unique backdrop with Mont Blanc and the Vaud Alps.
Villars basks on a sunlit terrace with a southern exposure, high above the Rhone Valley. The cogwheel railway takes you from the resort, in the heart of the Vaud Alps, to the second-last stop, Bouquetins. The setting for the start of this snowshoe trek: Mont Blanc, the Dents du Midi and all of the Vaud Alps.
Shortly afterwards, you pass the Maison de Montagne de Bretaye, a former military accommodation. Founded by General Guisan (1874-1960), it hosted military schools and training facilities for decades. The site now houses a hotel and restaurant. The trail takes you around the building, following the ridge, and then descends into the forest along two hairpin bends. After the forest path, you cross the rail track. You follow the track for some way, past the Auberge Col de Soud with the station of the same name.
Another path climbs through the forest and up the ridge here. The road on the left is reserved for sledgers. As soon as the trail has reached its highest point, it zig-zags down through the forest to the junction, level with the railway line. After a few more bends, the hike ends in the Domaine de la Forêt area where you can remove your snowshoes and walk a little further into the centre.
Shortly afterwards, you pass the Maison de Montagne de Bretaye, a former military accommodation. Founded by General Guisan (1874-1960), it hosted military schools and training facilities for decades. The site now houses a hotel and restaurant. The trail takes you around the building, following the ridge, and then descends into the forest along two hairpin bends. After the forest path, you cross the rail track. You follow the track for some way, past the Auberge Col de Soud with the station of the same name.
Another path climbs through the forest and up the ridge here. The road on the left is reserved for sledgers. As soon as the trail has reached its highest point, it zig-zags down through the forest to the junction, level with the railway line. After a few more bends, the hike ends in the Domaine de la Forêt area where you can remove your snowshoes and walk a little further into the centre.
Length | Number of stages
5 km
| 1 Stage
Ascent | Descent
130 m | 540 m
Hiking time
2 h 25 min
Fitness level
medium
Arrival | return travel
Season
Winter season
The winter season is usually from 15th of December to 15th of March.
Signalization
Direction of the signposting
This route is only signposted in one direction: Villars, Bouquetins - Col de Soud - Villars
Routing
Due to snow conditions, the locally signposted route may differ from that shown on the SwitzerlandMobility web map. If in doubt, follow the local signs.
Hints
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Office du Tourisme de Villars
Avenue Centrale 140
1884 Villars-sur-Ollon
Tel. +41244953232
information@villars.ch
www.villars-diablerets.ch
Avenue Centrale 140
1884 Villars-sur-Ollon
Tel. +41244953232
information@villars.ch
www.villars-diablerets.ch
