Hike On An Ancient Roman Road At St. Bernard's Pass

Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Switzerland

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Details

Distance

7.6 miles

Elevation Gain

9524.3 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Elyse Feaver

This trail was an ancient Roman road travelled by Hannibal and his army. On a clear day, you will see Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and the other 5,000 meter mountains along the range.

One of the highlights of St. Bernard’s Pass is visiting the St. Bernard Puppies in the kennel at Great St. Bernard Hospice. There has been a monastery atop this mountain for over one thousand years and the St. Bernards used to be bred as rescue dogs by the Augustinian monks.

While hiking along the trail between the Swiss-Italian border, we came across a family of Ibex. These majestic creatures were nearly hunted into extinction. We were fortunate to catch a glimpse of them in their natural habitat. On a clear day, you will also see Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and the other 5,000 meter mountains along the range. I recommend staying overnight at the hospice and tackling this climb as many times as you can. The mountains stay the same, but the clouds shift in and out so fast that it feels different each time. (And if you are lucky, you might find an ancient Roman coin on the path for a keep sake!)

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Features

Rock Climbing

Photography

Hiking

Adult Beverages

Dog Friendly

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Picnic Area

River

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