Sources of Lys (2417m), Trail 7

from Stafal to the Sources of the Lys

The headwaters of the Lys

Trail 7 starts in Stafal and arrives at the Sources of Lys (2417m) . It is 3304m long and the total positive elevation gain is 571m.
The approximate time for the climb is 1h44. The trail is rated EE difficulty.

This trail is one of the most popular with hiking families: it is relatively short, and allows you to arrive in a short time at the border between “normal” and glacial mountains, at an uncommon and truly spectacular spot. The trail is beautiful: although it develops above the tree line from a certain point onward it runs through lush, flowery environments, due to the Lys watering the ground abundantly and constantly.

In terms of technical difficulty, the trail is rather gentle at the beginning and only steepens toward the end, where a very short section equipped with a rope to help overcome some easy rocks that might be slippery justifies the EE level and gives a thrill of heroism to the children who venture there.

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

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Just before climbing the glacial moraine.

The trail to Stafal, just before reaching the moraine

The flows of the Lys Glacier, separated by the nose of the Lyskamm

Zoom in on the greenhouse of the Lys Glacier

1. Start and finish

Trail 7 starts from Stafal, the elevation is 1824m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.8598466868, 7.81251405414

The arrival location is at the Sources of Lys. The altitude is 2417m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.8824296329, 7.81343766158

2. The route

Leaving the car in the giant parking lot in Stafal, continue along the road until you reach the last bridge over the Lys and take the dirt road to the right. You will almost immediately find signs for trail number 7.

The beginning of the trail

The marked path follows the course of the Lys River on the right, gently gaining altitude. You soon come to a plateau, heralded by a couple of buildings that can be seen from the trail, where the wonderful Alpe Cortlys(1993m) is located. If the sign is displayed you can stop to buy cheese and butter (follow the signs, the hut where the cheese is for sale is a very short distance to the left of the sign).

Sign indicating cheese for sale at Cortlys alp.

Past the plateau of the Cortlys Alp, the trail resumes its ascent and passes the last group of trees, shortly reaching the left glacial moraine of the Lys. At 2165m you pass, pulling straight ahead, the junction with Trail 7C, which climbs to the right to reach the Salza Pass and then heads to Alta Luce. After crossing a creek, turn left and ascend along the moraine, which you traverse while staying to the right of the ridge.

The moraine along which you ascend

At the end of the moraine, at about 2300m, there is a short equipped section (useful only if the route is icy), which is passed without any problems.

The very short equipped section

We climb a little further, passing a few grassy bumps, and reach the panoramic plateau at 2417m from which the Lys springs can be seen…

The headwaters of the Lys

… and the terminal tails of the Lys Glacier that feed them.

Zoom in on the greenhouse of the Lys Glacier

Below is an aerial 3D view in which the entire route can be seen in broad strokes:

3. The GPX track

This is the map of the trail, according to the SCT Trail Cadastre of the Aosta Valley.

Download the trail in GPX format

4. A recent hike

12/09/2021

Here is the layout of the trail traveled on July 4, 2020. Nothing special to report, several people along the way, several people at the finish, beautiful day and also quite warm. Cortlys Alp was closed, probably because of restrictions for Covid.