Salero Pass and Lakes (2687m), trail 8A

from the Sitten Refuge to the Rothorn/Passo del Salero/Salerforko Pass

The little valley of the Rothorn photographed from the Rothòre

Salero Lakes from the Salero Pass

Trail 8A starts from the Sitten Hut (2274m) and reaches the Rothorn Pass (also Salero Pass,or Salerforkò) (2687m). It is 1997m long and the total positive elevation gain is 413m.
The approximate time for the climb is 1h13. The trail is rated of difficulty E.

On the right side of the Bettaforca valley, near the Albergo Ristoro Sitten hotel (where you can stay overnight), lies the Rothorn valley, which ends at the Rothorn pass, just below which are the two Salero lakes. From the Rothorn Pass, on the Ayas valley side, trails 10 and 11 start, crossing the Contenery valley.

Trail 8A does not present any technical difficulties. Due to its short length and the fact that it starts just a few meters from the Sant’Anna plateau (the arrival point of the cable car from Stafal, with two mountain huts available, the Albergo Ristoro Sitten and the Rifugio Jutz), it is always very popular. Along the initial part of the trail there is a magnificent view of Mount Rosa, towering majestically behind the climber.

Before returning to the valley, near the cable car departure station, it is worth making a short detour to admire the chapel of Sant’Anna.

More information on level of difficulty, ascent times, maps and GPX tracks

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The dirt road to the Bettaforca Pass starts from Jutz.

The path climbs in the direction of the opening at the top

The marshy shelf below the Salero lakes.

From the Rothorn Pass, the two lakes of Salero

From the Rothorn pass, the Contenery valley to the Ayas valley.

From the Rothorn Pass, the Bloabhòre and the saddle connecting it to the Rothorn

1. Start and finish

Trail 8A starts from Sitten Hut, the elevation is 2274m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.8577673757, 7.7970103222

The arrival location is the Rothorn Pass. The altitude is 2687m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.8499741979, 7.78268867397

2. The route

The start of Trail 8A is not in the valley floor, but at high altitude. You need to get to Stafal (no parking difficulties) and take the cable car to Sant’Anna. As soon as you get off the cable car, you will find yourself in front of the Jutz refuge, and higher up, on a hill, you can see the Sitten refuge. Next to the Jutz refuge, there is a dirt road that climbs towards the Bettaforca pass.

The dirt road to the Bettaforca Pass starts from Jutz.

Climb up the dirt road to the last bend that leads toward the Sitten hut: on the left you will see trail marker posts with signs for Trail 8A.

The path climbs in the direction of the opening at the top

From the post marking the start of 8A, observing the trail and the slope that will soon be ascended and then spanning St. Anna and the nearby Albergo Ristoro Sitten.

You almost immediately cross a small bridge over a stream, and move to the opposite side of the valley. The trail is well marked: In about three wide turns you climb up the steep valley step, for long stretches there are wooden steps that help to test your breath…

Once the steps were finished, the valley step was passed. You first cut through Salerobach until you reach a marshy shelf at about 2480m, where the stream breaks into a thousand rivulets. Here you cut back across the creek moving to the right (orographic left).

The marshy shelf below the Salero lakes.

Still keeping to the right, the trail continues to climb at a gentler gradient, first skirting a stony basin…

The stony basin

…and then arrive at Lower Salero Lake (2627m)…

Lower Salero Lake

…and, a few meters above, to Upper Salero Lake.

Upper Salero Lake

Continuing along the trail, a final very short stony ramp leads to the Rothorn Pass (2687m), the final point of the route.

From the Rothorn Pass, the two lakes of Salero

The view from the Salero Pass.

One more step:

Southwest of the Rothorn pass (and about 200 meters in elevation gain), an unnamed saddle set at 2852m divides the Rothorn (3152m) on the left (more easily reached from Gressoney-La-Trinité and following trail 10) from the Bloabhòre ( 2912m) on the right (also more approachable from Valle D’Ayas). According to some guidebooks (I never did), by looking for your way through the sea of rocks, you can reach this saddle quite easily: it is an excellent vantage point over Gran Paradiso, Grivola, Rutor, Mont Blanc and the southwestern peaks of the Aosta Valley.

From the Rothorn Pass, the Bloabhòre (right) and the saddle (2852m) connecting it to the Rothorn (left)

To the north-northeast of the Rothron Pass, some guidebooks point out the possibility of ascending along an obvious gully to a small lake at 2745m from which there would be an excellent view of the Rosa range and the Lys.

Below is a 3D view of the area in which I have highlighted the Rothorn pass and these two optional destinations.

3. Map and GPX track

This is the official map of the trail as recorded in the SCT Trail Registry of the Aosta Valley.
You can download the GPX track of the trail if you want to use it later in your favorite app.

Download the trail in GPX format