Le Catogne mountain, from Champex.

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 2.9 miles / 4.7 km
Duration: Half day

Family Friendly

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Overview: The mount Catogne is famous for its vulcao-like shape. Starting from Champex, the lane is in the shadow of the trees for the first 2km. From the Belvédère to the top, the lane is on the bridge, offering wonderful 360 degree views on the Alps. And there are some surprises on the way. wild life and mountains flowers.

Reasons to go there:

1. Champex, the starting point is a very cute ski resort with a wonderful lake and nice view over the Grand Combin. Champex is the starting point of a lot of great mountains hikes for beginner and mountaineers.

2. Le Catogne offers fantastic scenic views over the Rhone valley, the Massif du Mont Blanc, the Grand Combin, The Vélan and the Dents du Midi: just breathtaking. Enjoy with your children the feeling to be on the top of the world at the end of a hike that is not that difficult.

3. wonderful high mountains flowers (rare and protected).

4. Great wildlife: eagles, ibex. Those animals are not dangerous even if they may come very close to you sometimes.

Tips: Easy (to moderate) hike for family with children (I was 5 year old the first time I have been there).
Normal sport shoes are sufficient.
1-2 L of beverage / people.
Flowers guide.
Camera!!
Perfect from June to October.

Points of Interest

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Le Catogne seen from the valley (Orsières).

The first part of the path is on the beautiful left ridge of the picture. The final part is on the back side of the Mount Catogne.

Le Catogne seen from Orsières, the lane is on the left ridge Photo

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Starting point

The beginning of the path is not that easy to find. Starts as a small road on your left, 50 meters before reaching the Hotel Alpina.
The hike starts in Champex, a very cute ski resort with a small lake. Champex is located near the Massif du Mont Blanc and is a starting point for several great mountain hikes.

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Le Catogne (Mount Catogne)

Le Catogne seen from the starting point. As the path is on the ridge you'll enjoy a very nice view all day long. On the ridge the lane is indicated by a simple red line painted on rocks or trees.

Le Catogne, the lane is on the ridge and is indicated by just one red line Photo

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On the way up...

The first part of the hike is easy and family friendly. You could find some delightful mushrooms in the shadow of the trees.

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Belvédère: Val d'Entremonts et Mont Vélan

After 45 minutes walking you'll reach the Belvédère. A small house on a ridge with great scenic views on Champex, Grand Combin mountain,... Perfect for a break or as an aim of hike with small children.

Le belvédère is a small house on the ridge of the Catogne, a perfect place for a break with children Photo

Belvédère: Val d'Entremonts et Mont Vélan Photo

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Catogne

The path is on the ridge. You may meet huge group of ibexes on this ridge.

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high mountain flowers

In june, mountains flowers are beautiful. You may have a flower guide with you to help you identify all those beautiful small flowers.
The white one is the Pulsatille printanière, Pulsatilla vernalis: Grows just after the snow melt. this flower spread out all the way to Southern Norway. It has the characteristic to be completely covered in soft hairs, including the white flowers, which often do not open flat but are goblet shaped.
The blue one is the famous Alpine Gentian.

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Last few meters of the

The last 200 meters are steep, it's the most difficult part. The lane is indicated with one red line surrounded by two white lines. Be sure to follow these marks painted on stones or trees.

The way up, indicated by a red line in the middle of two white lines Photo

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Catogne, the final ridge

Just before starting the way up on the final ridge, the path separate in three parts, one going down (way back to Champex), one going straight on (for the Catogne tour) and one (difficult to find) going up on your right.

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Catogne, giant's finger

Just before reaching the top, on your left, there's a small bundle of beautiful red rocks with strange shapes...

Climbing part, for those who want to reach the top of the god finger, very funny Photo

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Scenic view at the top

The top of the Catogne has great panorama over the surroundings Alps (Massif du Mont Blanc, Grand Combin, Vélan,...).
Eagles and ibexes are almost always enjoying this quiet place.
You'll feel on the top of the world, it's great!