Easily accessible on foot from the village of Arolla, the “Lower Arolla Glacier”, situated below the Mont Collon glacier, has a length of 1.5 km. Imagine that during the Little Ice Age it was going 2 km further down the valley and almost reached the village of Arolla. It was even possible to cross the Collon pass to go to Aoste! For simple hiking enthusiasts or geology passionates, the area around the Lower Arolla Glacier is a real paradise absolutely worth to discover!

The Arolla Rando marked trail of 5,6 kilometres runs along the Les Fontanesses piste until the Buvette des 3000. Depending on your pace, the trail will take you 1h30 to 2h30. This trail was created by the Arolla ski lift company and is equipped with QR code posts, to enable you to measure your time and challenge other hikers through the Evotrail application. For evening hikes, a trail situated between Lannaz and Chemeuille is proposed every Wednesday evening. This trail is also accessible during the winter, when the Evolène ski lift company is in operation.

The 75-metre Monta footbridge near Arolla offers a completely safe way for hikers to cross the river Borgne, which winds along the length of the Val d’Hérens. Built in 2017, the walkway replaces a wooden bridge that was carried away every year by floods. The structure lies on the trail from Arolla up to the mountain refuge of Cabane de la Tsa. To complete the hike, allow 1 hour 45 min for the climb and 1 hour for the descent.

The quaint village of Arolla in the Val d’Hérens is the starting point for memorable mountain and ski tours and lies at the foot of majestic giant peaks. The ski resort features six ski lifts and – thanks to it very altitude – has guaranteed snow well into the spring. Chantal Bournissen, the former ski racer, has long appreciated this. Arolla is also loved for its ski tours and is one of the staging grounds for the famous “Haute Route” leading to Chamonix.

The Patrouille des Glaciers (PdG) is a historic international military ski-mountaineering race also open to civilian elite and amateur competitors. The competition is characterised by its length, altitude difference and route, which takes the patrols from Zermatt via Arolla to Verbier. It is a three-way human adventure, a journey through history, mountains, sport, friendship and emotion, organised by the Swiss Army.

The 2024 edition represents the 40^th anniversary of the rebirth of the Patrouille des Glaciers and will host the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) long-distance world championships on the Z2 course, in collaboration with La Grande Course.