Trail running course SofleuVotre trail débute à plat le long du bisse du Milieu. Après quelques centaines de mètres parfaits pour se mettre en jambe, vous apercevrez sur votre droite un point photo situé sur une petite estrade. Celui-ci vous permet d’admirer Nendaz ainsi que la plaine du Rhône. Juste avant la place de pique-nique, quittez le bisse en empruntant le petit pont en bois et débutez votre montée sur le sentier qui grimpe dans la forêt. Arrivé au croisement avec la route goudronnée, continuez tout droit en suivant le sentier des pives (balisage vert orné d’une pive). La montée devient de plus en plus raide jusqu’à la route. Suivez ensuite le bisse Vieux en direction de Planchouet. Ce chemin à plat, d’abord étroit, devient de plus en plus large.
Arrivé vers une ferme, au panneau rouge indiquant Sofleu, quittez le bisse et prenez la route goudronnée assez raide qui monte sur votre droite. Lors de cette montée au milieu des mayens et alpages, vous pourrez apercevoir le barrage de Cleuson au loin. Poursuivez sur la même route jusque dans la forêt, avant de redescendre jusqu’à une croix. Juste après cette dernière, suivez le petit sentier mêlant terre et racines qui monte de manière raide dans la forêt. Vous devez à présent suivre le balisage jaune. Vous arrivez ensuite sur un chemin en gravier assez large avec, sur votre droite, une place de pique-nique. Suivez ensuite le sentier des pives sur la route, puis, après le panneau sur les habitants de la forêt, empruntez le chemin en gravier jusqu’au croisement avec la piste de ski.
Votre descente débute sur le large chemin qui devient peu à peu un chemin en terre. Après quelques mètres sur une route en gravier, suivez le panneau jaune indiquant Nendaz. La fin de votre descente se poursuit sur un sentier assez raide.Trail femmes Sofleu 2021 (Etienne Bornet)Trail femmes Sofleu 2021 (Etienne Bornet)Trail sofleu 2017 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)1342.9664306641The resort of Haute-NendazThe tourist venture began at the end of the 1950s with the construction of the first gondola in 1958 and the first hotels. Since then, the resort of Haute-Nendaz has continued to develop.
Today, in winter, snow sports reign. The vast choice of ski runs, more than 400 kilometres in total, allows both beginners and experienced skiers to enjoy the snowy slopes of the 4 Vallées.
During the summer season, the resort is popular with mountain bikers and hikers. Nendaz benefits from an absolutely unique network of bisses (8 of which 6 are still in water). The paths along them, which are relatively flat, shady and traffic-free, are particularly popular places to walk. In July, Nendaz becomes the capital of the Alphorn, thanks in particular to its international festival.Haute-Nendaz station hiver vue aérienne 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Haute-Nendaz Station Hiver 2018 (Etienne Bornet)Haute-Nendaz station_été_vue aérienne_2014 (Matt Wright & Janire Najera)Haute-Nendaz Station Eté 2018 (Sonia Délèze)1344.6564941406Bisse du MilieuTaking its source at 1,460 metres above sea level and dating back to 1700, this 5-kilometre-long bisse is still in use today. It is used to irrigate raspberries and crops in the region of Haute-Nendaz and Basse-Nendaz. From Planchouet, the bisse descends towards the Bleusy, then flows towards the centre of the resort where it becomes a torrent, called the Tsâblo torrent, which in fact feeds the mill of the same name. It then plunges into the valley to join the Printse.
A BISSE, WHAT IS IT ?
The bisses were originally irrigation channels that diverted water from the rivers to water the farm land crops growing on the mountain slopes. They are true historical relics and bear witness to the Valaisans' relentless fight against drought. It is their construction that makes them so special. Indeed, these channels had to adapt to the different terrain and environments encountered along the way, giving rise to impressive workmanship, especially when we imagine what the means of construction were at the time. The bisses of our region take their source from the Printse, a river that flows along our valley. Of the eight bisses located in Nendaz, six still have water flowing within their banks and are still carrying out their original task of irrigation.
WHY ARE THEY WORTH THE DETOUR ?
The charming little Bleusy chapel is on the way. It is one of the mid-mountain chapels built in the 1930s on the site where the cattle is moved up to spring grazing. The parish priest used to come here to celebrate mass, which saved the peasants from having to travel all the way to the church in Basse-Nendaz. This charming little building is worth a visit, summer and winter alike! Indeed, the Bisse du Milieu is maintained in such a way as to be accessible even in winter as far as Le Bleusy.
ADVICE FROM THE LOCALS
If you are interested in discovering the bisses, kill two birds with one stone and walk two of our bisses by combining this hike with the Bisse Vieux! Indeed, between them, these bisses form a charming loop between Haute-Nendaz and Planchouet.Bisse du Milieu été 2022 (Florian Bouvet)Bisse du Milieu table de pique-nique été 2022 (Florian Bouvet)Bisse du Milieu été 2022 (Florian Bouvet)Bisse du Milieu Été 2019 (Etienne Bornet)Bisse du Milieu Famille Neige Hiver 2012 (Aline Fournier)Bisse du Milieu Famille Neige Hiver 2012 (Aline Fournier)Raquettes Bisse du Milieu Bleusy 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Raquettes Bisse du Milieu vue fond vallée 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Randonnée bisse du Milieu printemps 2023 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Nendaz station panorama printemps 2022 (Lévy Loye)Randonnée bisse du Milieu printemps 2022 (Lévy Loye)1560.6409912109Bisse VieuxThe precise dating of this bisse is not known. However, a publication from the local authorities dating back to 1658 mentioning this irrigation channel suggests that it had already existed for some years. The seven-kilometre-long Bisse Vieux takes its source from the river Printse, between Siviez and Planchouet.
As you walk along it, you can clearly see the different materials used to build it. Over the years, the old wooden gutters have been replaced by concrete pipes or iron troughs. And the parts which pass through the gorges made dangerous by the risk of avalanches crashing down from the Dent de Nendaz forced the farmers to run the water through pipes.
This bisse is still used today to irrigate meadows and crops, especially the apricot orchards and raspberries patches in the regions of Haute-Nendaz, Fey and Bieudron.
A BISSE, WHAT IS IT ?
The bisses were originally irrigation channels that diverted water from the rivers to water the farm land crops growing on the mountain slopes. They are true historical relics and bear witness to the Valaisans' relentless fight against drought. It is their construction that makes them so special. Indeed, these channels had to adapt to the different terrain and environments encountered along the way, giving rise to impressive workmanship, especially when we imagine what the means of construction were at the time. The bisses of our region take their source from the Printse, a river that flows along our valley. Of the eight bisses located in Nendaz, six still have water flowing within their banks and are still carrying out their original task of irrigation.
WHY IS IT WORTH THE DETOUR ?
This bisse allows you to walk from the resort of Haute-Nendaz to Planchouet in about 1h30. Marvel at the landscapes and wood sculptures you can find along the way. Observe how the builders were able to get around a steep rock face by creating a small waterfall along a stone staircase...
ADVICE FROM THE LOCALS
If you are interested in discovering the bisses, kill two birds with one stone and walk two of our bisses by combining this hike with the Bisse du Milieu ! Indeed, between them, these bisses form a charming loop between Haute-Nendaz and Planchouet.Bisse vieux sans figurant été 2022 (Florian Bouvet)Bisse Vieux main été 2022 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Bisse Vieux 18 2020 (Etienne Bornet)Bisse Vieux automne forêt 2020 (Etienne Bornet)Bisse Vieux panorama 2011 (Valais Tourisme)Bisse Vieux automne chenaux 2020 (Etienne Bornet)1512.5231933594Le BobLe Bob, with its small, cosy hut and sun-drenched terrace, at the bottom of the Tracouet ski slope at Les Clèves, is the ideal place to stop for a break or a well-deserved après-ski.
The luckiest among you can enjoy a superb sunset!Bob_hiver_2017 (Etienne Bornet)Bob_hiver_terrasse_2013 (Etienne Bornet)Bob_été_pré_2009 (Aline Fournier)Bob_été_terrasse_2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)1372.34118652341367.10314941411358.90576171881357.121093751345.01684570311345.49243164061345.24963378911350.39343261721346.53918457031347.11779785161349.38854980471350.99536132811349.38854980471352.90600585941352.16748046881369.66760253911371.86254882811417.42517089841435.26647949221433.59582519531438.85009765621422.52954101561462.18676757811472.2832031251507.65991210941483.49340820311489.92016601561493.42651367191496.56251551.20483398441572.05163574221602.98608398441589.84057617191590.80468751608.10803222661625.5058593751640.5214843751650.27441406251651.40759277341666.72314453121675.79724121091667.33886718751671.90563964841685.0722656251694.21313476561717.94079589841723.46008300781726.27807617191726.51916503911700.63806152341655.6152343751652.32629394531639.86730957031618.47106933591573.58288574221562.69873046881548.53906251534.39685058591536.27526855471534.39685058591527.18823242191508.90393066411479.55249023441446.2988281251439.93041992191433.85620117191417.51440429691378.08728027341374.27978515621362.67993164061358.46105957031344.92932128911341.621093751341.96704101561341.621093751344.92932128911358.46105957031362.67993164061374.27978515621368.49682617191367.10314941411358.89672851561355.90490722661351.660156251345.79211425781357.121093751358.90576171881367.10314941411368.49682617191375.1556396484