St-Luc to the top of the Bella-Tola

Start in the center of the village of St-Luc, next to the church, and take the Chemin de Prosper. Follow the signs directing you to Tignousa. When you arrive at Tignousa, follow the signs directing you to the Cabane Bella-Tola. The Cabane Bella-Tola is a nice stop to eat or simply have a drink with a view of the surrounding summits.

Then, you’ll cross the routes of the Tignousa and Col des Ombrintzes drag lifts. After hiking through the pastures and zig-zagging up the mountainside, you will reach the mountain refuge and the summit ridge; and when you take your eyes off the path, you will see steeply plunging slopes on both sides. The walk continues to the left along the ridge path, towards the Phare de Griolet, on the summit of Rothorn. There is a panoramic 360° view from there of all the peaks. You then retrace your steps to reach the “real” summit of Bella-Tola, from where you have a view of more than thirty peaks that exceed 4000m.

If you want to extend your trail, you can come back on the same trail to the Bella-Tola Lake, from there, take the path on your right and follow the “Sentier des lacs” which will bring you back to Tignousa. You’ll encounter mountain lakes with breathtaking views.

This trail is accessible from May to October. Because of this, you’ll have lots of options for when to hike it. Be aware that early in the season, there may still be snowbanks and you may need to bring micro-spikes for the trail. The trail is also very beautiful in the autumn when you can see the leaves turning colors.

For your hike from St-Luc to the top of the Bella-Tola, you’ll want to pack properly and train well to have a good time. Packing for a day hike is nice because your pack can remain relatively light, as you’ll only need to bring the necessities. This means layers, a comfortable pair of shoes, and lots of snacks and water to keep you hydrated and your energy up.

Additionally, you may want to bring hiking poles and a hat for the sun. The peak can be quite windy, so an extra layer for when you get to the top will feel good as well. Finally, make sure you download the trail GPX offline to your device for backup.

The hike from St-Luc to the top of Bella-Tola is rated as a moderate hike because of the elevation you’ll climb in one day. However, training for this hike will prepare you for the challenge! Try taking day hikes at home with a full pack, favoring hiking on uneven surfaces. Or, you can pick up running or spend time on the stairmaster machine. All of these will help you build muscle, endurance, and patience (especially in the case of the stairmaster!).