The Valley of Grauson

The panoramic view is extremely vast and the floristic richness is among the most varied and exclusive in all of the Valle d’Aosta: from the hamlet of Gimillan to the tip of Arpisson, from the promontory of Tsaplana until the East within the Valley of Grauson, ending practically at Lake Coronas. A variety of habitats which include high-altitude Alpine pastures, wastelands, moors, springs, lakes and marshlands and which contribute not only to warranty an elevated degree of biodiversity but also confer upon the Valley its landscape of truly unique worth. This territory is well-known for the conservation and protection of rare species such as the Aethionema thomasianum, the Potentilla multifida, the Campanula alpestris and the Sedum villosum, all identified in very few other Italian sites.

A naturalistic attraction of great importance which, together with the rich and typically Alpine fauna, animate this area.

Activities

  • Hiking

    All trails are in excellent condition, as they undergo periodic maintenance.

    It is possible to reach the Grauson Valley by the trails which leave from the parking lots located in the hamlet of Gimillan. Classical destinations include  Grauson – Vieux (2.270 m) and Grauson - Neuf (2.540 m).

    The first is a small village to the left of the Grauson torrent, while the second is located on the left of the Lussert torrent; in either case, you will encounter many restructured rural buildings and many pastures still in use. To the North, you will find the 4 lakes of Lussert, located under the Col des Laures between approx. 2.700m and 2.900m in altitude: the trail is easy, but its distance is rather long, and thus difficult to undertake in a single day without prior training.

    At the height of the hamlet of Pilaz, you will find lovely waterfalls, an ideal spot to pause and observe the landscape.

    Another trail (marked 3, 3B, 3C and 8), recommended for trained hikers, brings you to Tsaplana (2.678m), from which you can enjoy a superb panoramic view on the valley which houses Cogne.

  • Snowshoe trekking

    In general, the area is subjected to avalanches: it is therefore recommended to snowshoe trek only along the circular trail which surrounds Truc Cretetaz. In any case, please consult the snow and weather forecasts before your departure.

Discover the site

The best season to admire the blossoming of the Valley’s unique species coincides with the months of July and August. Although not highly frequented, the site’s elevated naturalness recommends itself only to hikers in small groups, aware and careful not to disturb the equilibrium of this Alpine ecosystem.


Behavioural conduct rules

We remind you that you can contribute to the preservation of these sites by following these simple rules:

visit the site on foot, with skis or snowshoes; avoid using motorized vehicles, boating equipment, hang-gliders, para-gliders or similar; mountain bikes and horseback riding are permitted only in specific authorized areas (external to the site): please respect hikers;

please stay within the marked trails, as trampling can ruin the fragile grass and undergrowth areas; in winter, please follow the recommended trails so as not to disturb animals which are fighting against hunger and cold;

please observe wild animals from a distance, do not capture them, do not disturb them nor feed them, and do not photograph occupied nests;

keep your dog on a leash and on the marked trails;

do not pick minerals or flowers;

do not make fires;

please bring your garbage back to the villages, where you will find many recyclable waste-collection points;

camping is permitted only for nightly bivouacs at an altitude of over 2500 meters; take care not to wash your dishware in springs or stagnant ponds of water; campers and trailers must be parked outside of the park, in specific authorized areas.

How to get there

By car

The municipality of Cogne can be reached by the S.R. 47 regional road, taken from the S.S. 26 road, at the height of Aymavilles. Proceed along the entire length of the valley until you reach Cogne, and then continue towards the hamlet of Gimillan, located North of the chief-town, where you can park your vehicle.

Buses are requested to stop only for the time it takes to embark or disembark passengers, and then to proceed to the area equipped for them at the entrance of Cogne, next to the cemetery.

By bus

The Aosta – Cogne busline makes 7 daily trips and reaches the centre of the municipality of Cogne. From here, paying shuttles depart and go to the hamlet of Gimillan, with a single daily frequence (increased during periods of high touristic affluence).

Accessibility codification of sites

VIVA has chosen to supply everyone – youngsters, adults, the elderly and the disabled – with all the sites’ information so as to allow the visitor to choose a destination in an autonomous way.
An “Accessibility Codification”has thus been defined.


The Valley of Grauson

Information to reach the site 1
Accessibility from main roads 1
Parking for the disabled 3
Accessible restrooms 1
Information panels 0
Slopes (max 8%) 0
Trail width (min 90cm) 0
Road surface 0
Resting areas approx every 10 m. 0
Safety and protection of trails 2
Periodic maintenance 2

GENERAL INDICATIONS – ASSESSMENT VALUES (0 ÷ 3):
0 corresponds to ABSENCE of the indicated parameter;
3 corresponds to the PRESENCE of the indicated parameter, in optimal condition;
1 – 2 are INTERMEDIATE VALUES: in general, they indicate the presence of the parameter which must however be improved (1 = sufficient, 2 = close to optimal)

Paths

More paths :

VIVA suggests:

Average path

Laghi di Lussert

  • Elevation gain : 1.132 m
  • Travel time: 4 h
  • Signposting: 8-8A-8B-102

What to see:

Period:from june to september

Easy trails: routes that present no major technical difficulties or too challenging slopes. They can be covered in full or in small sections, allowing in both cases to come into contact with unspoilt nature, discovering its pace and balance …

Medium difficult trails: routes that can be covered in a day, varying considerably in terms of height differences and technical difficulty; the benefit is in being able to reach wildlife destinations of great impact.

Long trails: excursions lasting several days which provide for stopover places and catering along the route.

cartina The Valley of Grauson

SIC SIC IT1205064

Municipality: Cogne

Surface: 489 ha

Altitude: 2.000 ÷ 3.000 m s.l.m

Responsible forest station:
Aymavilles

Activities

Con mamma e papà: weekend nel parco

Con mamma e papà: weekend nel parco
Un fine settimana alla scoperta dell’ambiente montano in compagnia di mamma e papà

Nordic walking, in step with Nature

Nordic walking, in step with Nature

It’s a gentle way of getting to the heart of the environment, respecting its silence.

The devil’s cage: the valley of Grauson

The devil’s cage: the valley of Grauson

Dominated by nature and by a strong sense of spirituality that permeates the numerous legends of the Valley.