Cabane de Moiry

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Overview

  • Start point: Barrage de Moiry (2,110 m)

  • Highest point: Cabane de Moiry (2,825 m)

  • Distance: Approx. 11 km round trip

  • Elevation gain: ~700 m

  • Hiking time: ~4–5 hours round trip

  • Difficulty: Moderate


This hike starts at the Barrage de Moiry, located at the end of one of the branches of Val d'Anniviers. The lower parking lot at the base of the dam is already at an impressive altitude of 2,110 meters. There is a second parking lot at the top of the dam at around 2,250 meters, but it’s often closed to vehicles.

From the lower parking, a trail zigzags up the mountainside and leads you to the top of the dam in about 20 minutes. Take a moment to walk across the dam—it's massive and offers a dramatic view down its vertical drop from the center. From here, the trail follows the left bank of the Lac de Moiry, an artificial lake with a surreal turquoise color that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding landscape.


After a few hundred meters, the path splits: one trail goes higher, while the other stays lower and almost level. We took the lower trail, which stays close to the lake all the way to its far end.


Just after the lake, the trail climbs gently through a small valley, leading to the Lac de Châteaupré at 2,350 meters. Surprisingly, there's even a seasonal bus stop here—only in Switzerland can you reach such remote beauty spots by public transport!

From this point, the trail veers to the right side, tracing the mountainside and becoming increasingly rocky. You soon find yourself walking on the exposed former bed of the Moiry Glacier, a surreal and rugged landscape. After just over an hour of ascent and a final push over a stony path, you reach the Cabane de Moiry at about 2,825 meters.


When we visited in late September, the Cabane was already closed for the season, but we could still enjoy the breathtaking view of the glacier just in front of it. The hut is famous for its large panoramic window overlooking the icy landscape—a perfect reward for your effort.


After a sandwich break, we retraced our steps. If you're looking to shorten the hike, you can catch the bus either at Lac de Châteaupré or back at the dam, depending on the time of year. Alternatively, if you're up for a change of scenery, consider walking back on the opposite side of the lake via the road used by the bus.

Location: Cabane de Moiry CAS, 3961 Grimentz, Switzerland

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