Via Ferrata des Rochers de Naye, Montreux, Vaud

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

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

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

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.

List of the Via Ferrata in Switzerland

- Look at the Swiss Via Ferrata Map.
 

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.