Via Ferrata des Rochers de Naye, Montreux, Vaud

 

   Footbridge      Monkey Bridge       Ladder          Zipline    
0 0 1 0

 

Features

One of the most beautiful via ferratas in the world with a splendid view on Lake Geneva. Lots of contact with the rock for both hands and feet. A gem!

Not for everyone. Reserved for those with experience and strong arms.

The last part is opens only on the first of July (due to nesting birds)

 

ViaFerrata Tips and Tricks

Bring your MTB aboard the Golden Pass train and also a camera because the landscape is splendid. You can ride down all the way to Montreux. Nonetheless the Golden Pass train costs an arm and a leg.

You can choose to go down the caverns (on the way back). Bring a headlamp and try not to wear white pants!

Take some good hiking shoes (with vibram). You'll be in contact with the rock frequently and sometimes with muddy earthy grass sections. It is prohibited to wear tennis shoes (as it is, in fact, for all via ferratas).

 

Grade

 Strength    4
 Dizziness    4
 Type       High Mountain: 2
 Technics            1
 Evaluation   Extreme

 

Information

Tourism Office Tourisme Montreux

 

Length and Altitude

Elevation gain : 160 m
Start : 1'856 m
End: 1'993 m
Length: 600 m

 

GPS Coordinates

Parking: if you go by car
N 46,27 091
E 06,58 634

Start of the via ferrata:
N 46.436587848039
E 6.9806818993206

 

Time of Year

May to November (snow).

 

Timing

Approach from the the train stop: Jaman Station: 30 minutes
Approche from the parking lot: 50 minutes
Via Ferrata: 1h30 
Way Back Option A: 5  minutes to get on the train from l'Hôtel de Naye towards Montreux
Way Back Option B: if you go through the caverns (bring a headlamp) its really nice. Account for 1 hour to the Jaman train stop and twenty minutes to get to the parking lot.

 

By car

From Lausanne: Vevey highway, exit in Montreux.
Go towards Glion- Caux.
Continue to the Rochers de Naye and park your car at the Col de Jaman.

 

By train

Via the Golden Pass from Montreux to the Rochers de Naye. Get off at the Jaman stop.

36.-- Frs per person there and back (18.-- with the half-fare)

 

 

Access

From the Jaman station, the via ferrata is located straight ahead of you.

Go down the path to the ruins of an ancient mountain pasture chalet. Follow the markings to the via ferrata.

Via Ferrata

The via ferrata is located between the Tour de la Chaux de Naye and the Rochers de Naye of the north-west side.

The beginning of this via ferrata is a selective process: a vertical 50m rocky spur and you will reach a ladder.

You keep going on a narrow ramp that leads out onto a series of grassy ledges which bring you to the bottom of an escape route.

If you are in shape and feeling good, keep going on the trail that goes down. Otherwise, opt for the escape route that goes up.

If you keep going, you are going to have to face the void and especially the rock wall (sometimes overhanging) that really works your arms. It is demanding and takes a lot of energy (not for beginners).

Way Back

Two options:

Option A: 5  minutes to the train from l'Hôtel de Naye towards Montreux (18.-- Frs to get to Montreux or 9.-- Frs to Montreux with the half-fare)

Option B: through the caverns

If you go through the caverns, each person must have a headlamp. It is very beautiful, and you must not be too big as there is a pretty narrow section. It's vertiginous. Account for 1h45 to get back to the Jaman train stop.

Where to Sleep

Check with the Tourism Office.

Photos

Via Ferrata La Farinetta, Saillon, Valais

 

 

 

 Footbridge    Monkey Bridge      Ladder     Zipline  
0 3 0 0
  

Features

This via climbs through the Salentze Gorges and there is a beautiful section next to a waterfall (and in the waterfall during summer or after thunderstorms). This via ferrata is not made for beginners and the third part is reserved for those with strong arms as the overhang is very tough. I repeat myself, the third part is not for those who overestimate their strength! So if you haven't been training and you do not have much/any arm strength don't go because its extremely difficult.

Rescues are not free and the helicopter costs more than 3,500 Frs (3,000 Euro) and insurance companies don't cover ego problems.

Demanding and in a vertiginous setting.

 

ViaFerrata Tips and Tricks

On the trail that leads to the via ferrata you'll come across a warm waterfall. It is nice in the fall or in spring.

Take an extra lanyard to use for resting. If your arms get tired, you can use it to rest and it will help you finish the via ferrata.

The rope bridge at the beginning of the via ferrata acts as a traffic controler. In summer there are a lot of people, even idiots without helmets wearing tennis shoes. We even saw a guy from Neuchâtel doing it backwards! After a good yelling-at, this moron, whose behavior posed a fatal risk to all those climbing up, turned back the other way.

If you are just starting out with via ferratas don't go here and train on an easier one. On the last part there were 9 helicopter rescues in 2013 because of morons who tried to be Mr. Tough Guy. As the rock face is very steep you are putting the lives of the rescuers at risk, you will receive a big bill and you are discrediting the via ferrata community.

For your car
If you leave your car in one of the 3 parking lots you risk getting a ticket. What is better is to leave it at the top/end point of the via ferrata, near the Farinet footbridge.
Then go down to the start (by way of the vineyards). This way you will avoid having to take the trail that goes to the baths parking twice.

Grade

 Strength Part 1: 3
Part 2: 3
Part 3: 4
 Dizziness  Part 1: 3
Part 2: 4
Part 3: 4
 Type  Plaine: 1
 Technics Part 1: 2
Part 2: 1
Part 3: 2
 Evaluation Part 1: Difficult
Part 2: Very Difficult
Part 3: Extreme

Information

Office du Tourisme de Saillon

 

Length and Altitude

Total length : 1010 m.
Cabled distance : 820 m.
Elevation gain : 335 m.

Start: 536 m
Finish: 841 m
 

GPS Coordinates

Via ferrata parking lot
N 46'10.857   E 007'11.474   Altitude  525 m

From the start of the via:
N 46.10.938   E 007.11.236   Altitude  536 m
Altitude: 995 m.

 

Time of Year

March to November (if there is no snow).

 

Timing

Approach from the Saillon Baths: 25 minutes
Via Ferrata: 2h
3rd part: 45 m
Way back: to the parking lot about 50 min

By car

From the highway from Martigny exit at Fully and go towards Saillon.

At the Saillon exit (after the baths), you will go across a very small bridge. Immediately after the bridge take the unpaved road that goes along the river.

For parking: as Saillon is a fairly quiet village, the police has found a hobby. They have installed a traffic surveillance system in the area surrounding the Via. There are three parking lots for those going to the via ferrata and fines for those who leave their ride outside of these parking lots. So be careful and don't try anything heroic.

Pour le parking: comme Saillon est un village assez calme, la Police a trouvé un passe-temps. Elle a installé une signalisation aux abords de la Via. Il y a 3 parkings prévus pour les ferratistes et des amendes pour ceux qui laissent leur titine en dehors des parkings. Donc fais gaffe et pas d'héroïsme.

The parking lots are far from everything! There is one near the baths and another across from the baths. Of course, they all charge. Account for 25 minutes of walking to reach the start of the via.

 

By Train

Take the train to Martigny and then the bus to Saillon (the baths). Contact the SBB for schedules and fares.

 

 

Access

From the parking spot (see the GPS coordinates and the point marked on the map, go up along the river, you'll pass by a small waterfall and you'll find the cable).

Via Ferrata

It starts off pretty strong with a very vertiginous nepalese bridge (see picture) that sways quite a bit. And the cherry on the cake... you have to change the lanyards three times during the crossing. If you get stuck here it's a sign that you shouldn't go.

The climb is very beautiful and the atmosphere vertiginous and you hear the murmur of the river carving its path through the gorge. You'll get a second shot at a rope bridge. Then it climbs pretty steeply and you get closer to a waterfall. During the summer you go partially into it and you'll get soaked. Then you come to the first escape route.

The second part starts off with a slightly overhanging section that is fairly hard on your arms. It's pretty strenuous but you can take a break in a cavern that is underneath the Farinet footbridge. Then you keep climbing and it gets more and more demanding until you reach the escape route.

The third part is EXTREMELY STRENUOUS. If you are not doing well, exit here because once you start you can't go back and there are three overhanging sections that are mega tough. Taking an extra via ferrata lanyard is very helpful.
After you have crossed a very vertiginous rope bridge, you pass three overhangs that are really difficult and really work the arms. Luckily the cables were perfectly placed and you don't have to change to a new cable section during any of the overhanging parts.

Wow, you made it to the top!

Way Back

Tu descends en direction de la passerelle à Farinet et ensuite tu coupes dans les vignes. Tu suis le chemin pédestre. Un peu raide parfois et plein Sud!

Go down towards the Farinet footbridge and then cut across into the vineyards. Follow the pedestrian trail. A bit steep and it sometimes is completely south facing!

Check out the tip above in Tips and Tricks to avoid having to take the trail that winds its way down to the parking lot for via ferrata-ists.

Where to Sleep

Check with the Tourism Office. There are Bed&Breakfasts in this area.

by ViaFerrata.org Youtube

Photos

List of the Via Ferrata in Switzerland

List of the Via Ferrata in Switzerland

- Look at the Swiss Via Ferrata Map
 

   Via Ferrata Name
 Location   Grade  Features
  Valais      
 501  Via Ferrata
 Moiry Dam
 Grimentz  Difficult
 Extreme
 Zip line, nice view.
 April to November
 527  Via Ferrata Farinetta  Saillon  Very difficult
 to Extreme
 Start with a challenging bridge.
 March-Nov.
 503  Via Ferrata de Tière  Champéry  In 2 parts: Beginner
 Difficult
 Follow the river. Bridges
 March-November

 513  Via Ferrata Evolène  Evolène  Extreme  Last part is very solid
 Not for beginners. April-Nov
 511  Via Ferrata
 Jägihorn Weissmies
 Saas Fee
 Very difficult
 Very long with a beautiful view.
 Abore 3'000m. June-Sept
 510  Via Ferrata
 Baltschiedertaler
 Baltschieder  Very difficult
 High Mountain. Few gear
 June-October
 517  Via Ferrata
 in Loèche
 Loèche  Very difficult
 Lot of rock falls. Hazardous
 Nombreuses chutes de pierres
 516  Via Ferrata
 du Belvédère
 Nax  Easy  For beginners
 March-November
 521  Via Ferata Schweifine  Zermatt   Difficult  3 via.
 Near the center of Zermatt
 
 528  Via Ferrata Gabi  Simplon
 Gondo
 Difficult  Near the Simplon pass
 April-October
  Vaud      
 504  Via Ferrata Cascade  Les Diablerets  Extreme  Need strength
 May - November
 502  Via Ferrata
 Rocher Jaune
 Tête de Chamois
 Les Diablerets  Difficult  High Mountain.
 Near the telecabine
 June-October
 530  Via Ferrata 
 Dames Anglaises
 Les Diablerets  Difficult  High Mountain
 June-October
 505  Via Ferrata
 La Tour d'Ai
 Leysin  Difficult  Suitable for solid beginners.
 May - october
 518  Via Ferrata Plan Praz  Leysin  Extreme  In the village. Need strength
 April - November
 506  Via FerrataFerrata
 Videmanette 1-2
 Rougemont  Initiation / Beginner  Short, easy
 June - September
 507  Via Ferrata Sportive
 Videmanette 3
 Rougemont  Very difficult  Strong! Dizziness
 June - September
 522  Via Ferrata
 la Splendide
 Rocher
 de Naye
 Extreme  Wonderful! Great view
 May - November
 529  Via Ferrata du
 Lavanchy
 Pont de Nant
 Plan sur Bex
 Difficult  Short but tough
 April - November
  Bern      
 508

 Via Ferrata Tälli

 Meiringen  Initiation
 Very difficult
 2 via: Kids or Pros
 July - October
 519  Via Ferrata
 Allmenalp
 Kandersteg  Extreme  Ziplines, bridges. Technics
 June - October
 524   Klettersteig Ferrata
 Gantrisch
 
 Gantrisch  Difficult  Very long: 5h. Ladders
 June - October
  Fribourg
     
 514  Via Ferrata
 Voie Hohl La Face
 Moléson
 Gruyère
 Very Difficult  Not for beginner. Fees
 April - October
 515  Via Ferrata
 Le Pilier
 Moléson
 Gruyère
 Difficult  Dizziness. Watch opening time
 April - October
  Neuchâtel      
 512  Via Ferrata
 du Tichodrome
 Noiraigue  Easy  For beginners and kids
 Closed January 1 until July 1
  Glaris      
 526  ViaFerrata 
 Eggstock
 Braunwald  Extrem  In 3 parts. Long 5h30
 June - October
  Uri      
 509  Via Ferrata
 Diavolo
 Andermatt  Initiation  For beginners
 June-October
  Tessin      
 520  Via Ferrata
 Salvatore
 Lugano  Very Difficult  At the top of the Funiculaire
 June to October
   Grison      
 527  Via Ferrata Piz Mitgel   Savognin   Difficile  Longue journée, 5h montée, 3h descente
 Aérienne en haute montagne 
 525  Via Ferrata Pinut  Flims   Facile  La plus vieille via ferrata en Suisse (1900) 
 Passages suspendus
 523  Via Ferrata
 Sulzlfluh
 Sankt Antonien  Very Difficult  Long and strong. Ladders and bridge
 June - October
         

Warning

Via Ferrata (read before you select a via ferrata)

The information provided in this website may be not accurate. It is up to you to select a via you would like to climb. More information can be collected to the Tourism Office or the Mountain Guide Office.

ViaFerrata.com and ViaFerrata Sarl is not responsible in case of wrong information or comments. They are only provided as indication.