Triassic dinosaur tracks, the history of major dams and protected alpine habitats give Finhaut a distinctive character. This offers a range of different ways to plan your trip: you can focus on nature trails, engineering history or local culture.
Dinosaur Tracks and Dam History
The Dalle à empreintes de dinosaures d’Emosson is a palaeontological site with numerous relatively well-preserved footprints of Triassic reptiles. It has been protected by the Canton of Valais since 9 November 1983 and is significant both nationally and internationally. The Sentier du site à empreintes d’archosaures is fully waymarked and shown on regional hiking maps. At the archosaur footprint site near Vieux-Emosson, geologists and mountain guides explain the tracks each summer for three weeks from the end of July; check the exact dates before your trip.
The “The hidden side of Barberine” educational trail explores the history of the construction of the first dam in the upper Trient valley. Previously unpublished photographs from the archives of SBB and Usine du Châtelard complement the trail. The water tower houses a room with a photographic exhibition about the construction phases of the various facilities. You can hike uphill from the VerticAlp station at Les Montuires to the Emosson dam, or downhill in the opposite direction. On a guided tour of the dam, you can walk along the crest and visit the gallery inside. Completed in 1955, the Vieux-Emosson dam created a second, separate reservoir.
Alpine Habitats and Hiking Trails
The Sentier du Balcon du Mont-Blanc passes through a range of habitats: wetlands, meadows, alpine pastures, glacial moraines and rocky terrain. It introduces visitors to local flora and fauna as well as the Fenestral glacial basin. The trail also offers views of the Mont Blanc massif and the Plateau du Trient, and leads to the protected Bas-marais wetland at Six Jeur, at an altitude of 2,062 metres.
The protected natural areas also each have their own distinctive features. TĂŞte des Six-Jeurs contains small high-altitude marshes with water clover, dragonflies, stone loaches and black grouse. TĂŞte des CrĂŞts is notable for its distinctive geology, with a succession of hollows and steep ridges; it is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. The Sentier du Balcon du Mont-Blanc focuses on habitats, views and the glacial basin, while the two protected areas draw attention to the marshes and geology, respectively.
Getting to Emosson and Activities There
Emosson dam is accessible by road; the funicular was used during the dam’s construction. On the way to the dam, the road from Finhaut to Emosson follows the route of the 2016 Tour de France and offers views of Mont Blanc. Road and weather conditions vary. Reaching the climbing area at the dam requires a 30-minute approach on foot to the foot of the dam wall. From Finhaut, it takes about two hours to walk to the EMOSSiONelle zipline; the climb involves an 800-metre ascent.
There are also different cycling routes to explore: the Finhaut–Emosson cycling stage received the “Route du Tour” label in 2018. The mountain bike route from Finhaut to Emosson starts at Finhaut station, passes through Les Montuires and reaches the dam. The Mont-Blanc Express runs between Martigny and Chamonix via Finhaut. To reach the Sentier du Balcon du Mont-Blanc, take a CFF train to Martigny, then the Mont-Blanc Express to Finhaut. Check the timetable before departure.
Local History and Trip Planning
Finhaut’s Notre-Dame parish church was built in 1928 to replace a sanctuary dating from 1652. The Grand-hôtel Bristol was built in 1908 and converted into a sanatorium in 1946. The well-preserved historic hotel ensemble and the church give Finhaut outstanding historical and architectural qualities. The village walk “A travers Finhaut, La Cotze et Le Léamon” uses information panels to explain Finhaut’s history and tourism, as well as its built heritage, including the church and the Bristol Hotel. The Saint-Sébastien tradition is celebrated every year on 20 January.
Also take into account the seasonal period when guided explanations are available, and choose the train, road or walking route that best suits your plans.
Discover more destinations: Massongex, Dorénaz, Vernayaz, Mex Vs, Salvan, Vérossaz, Saint-Maurice Vs.
View the wider travel guide: Saint-Maurice.
