Le sentier des innombrables, Arolla
Overview
- Starting Point: Parking lot below the ski lifts in Arolla (1998m)
- End Point: Same as the starting point (circular route)
- Estimated Time: 2.5 - 3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate (challenging without snowshoes)
- Total Elevation Gain: ~150m
- Highest Point: ~2150m
- Key Features: Snowshoe trail, metal artworks, ski slope crossings, forest paths
- Family-Friendly?: Yes, but some sections are challenging with small children
The Beginning: Setting Off from Arolla
Le Sentier des Innombrables in Arolla (1998m) is a scenic snowshoe trail featuring large metal artworks along the route. You can find all relevant information about it here.
The trail begins at the parking lot just below the ski lifts in Arolla. Walk to the end of the parking area, where the road becomes snowy, and follow it for a few hundred meters until you see signs directing you to the right.
That day, Gaia was not in the mood. And when Gaia isn’t in the mood, everything becomes more challenging. Anticipating this, I decided it was pointless to make her walk, so I brought a bob to tow her along the way.
The Groomed Section: A Gentle Start
The first part of the trail (at least when we visited) was groomed, making for a pleasant series of bends through the woods on a wide, well-maintained path. It was so easy that, seeing this and noting that the website labeled the trail as "easy," we left our snowshoes in the car—a decision we would later regret.
For the first 30 minutes or so, corresponding to most of the uphill section, the trail remained groomed. We were unsure if we were on the correct path, as we hadn’t yet encountered the advertised metal artworks. However, just as the groomed section ended, we came across the first panel, confirming we were indeed on the right track.
Crossing the Ski Slopes: The Tricky Part
At this point, the path veers left and transitions into a proper snowshoe trail. A steep section required Gaia to get off the bob and walk. Shortly after, we crossed a small bridge and then reached the ski slopes, marking the highest point of the trail at approximately 2150m.
This is where the absence of snowshoes became an issue. Ski slopes are notoriously slippery due to grooming, which freezes the surface. Crossing one in regular winter shoes while holding a four-year-old’s hand, with skiers whizzing past, was tricky.
To be clear, if you bring snowshoes and don't have a child with you, there’s nothing particularly difficult about this section. Even without snowshoes, managing alone would have been feasible. But handling both challenges together made things more complicated.
Fortunately, we crossed early enough in the day that skier traffic was still light, allowing us to manage. One additional difficulty was that the ski slope is wide, and the continuation of the path is not immediately visible on the other side. To find it, you need to walk uphill to the end of the first ski lift you encounter, then cross the slope horizontally. The trail picks up again there.
Back into the Woods: A True Snowshoe Experience
After this, you cross another ski lift, marking the end of the ski slope crossings, and re-enter the woods. This section is a true snowshoe path—narrow and ungroomed. Gaia was back on the bob at this point, and we managed because it hadn't snowed for a few days, meaning a clear path had been carved by previous hikers. Had fresh snow fallen, we likely would have had to turn back.
The next 15-20 minutes were a gentle descent, one of the most enjoyable sections of the hike. We weaved through the trees, bob sledding down the trail in a fun, slalom-like fashion.
As we ventured deeper into the woods, the path became steeper. Here, Gaia had to get off the bob again, as it risked slipping off the edge. There were also icy patches, and once more, I cursed our decision to leave the snowshoes behind. With them, this section would have been much easier.
Nearing the End: Approaching Arolla
After another 15 minutes, we arrived near a parking area above Arolla. At this point, you can either continue down the road to shorten the walk or stick to the trail. Being stubborn, we opted to continue. We followed the path along the parking lot until it rejoined the road.
Here, you ascend the road for about 100 meters before descending toward another parking lot. At the end of this lot, the trail resumes on snow. This was, surprisingly, the most challenging part. The descent was quite steep, requiring Gaia to walk in certain sections.
Although the village was never far away—we were essentially circling it—our lack of snowshoes made everything much harder. Towards the end, I resorted to sliding down on my back while holding the bob, which proved to be an effective technique.
Final Stretch: Returning to Arolla
At the lowest point of the trail, we reached a junction with a larger, groomed path. There is an option to continue downhill for a small loop extension, but given our adventures so far, we decided we had had enough for the day and turned right toward the village. This final uphill section was somewhat steep but manageable, even with Gaia in tow.
Rest and Reward: A Well-Deserved Break
At the bottom of the ski slopes, there is a yurt offering hot dogs and paninis—a perfect spot to rest and soak in the sun. Surprisingly, after all this, I still had enough energy for an hour of skiing, followed by 30 minutes of helping Gaia up and down the kids’ piste just below the yurt.
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