Grandvillard – Vanil Noir | Mountain hiking

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Vanil Noir
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Grandvillard – Vanil Noir

Grandvillard – Vanil Noir Vanil Noir 2389 m

Difficulty

T4+
Ascent

5:15 h, 1660 m
Descent

3:15 h, 1660 m

Top of Fribourg

Vanil Noir, the highest mountain in the canton of Freiburg, stands in the centre of a nature reserve, which on two sides is limited by the Saane and on the north by the Jaunbach. It is impossible to get close to Vanil Noir by using the public transportation system. Wherever you leave the bus or the train, it takes a while until you reach the summit cross. The tour can be made shorter by driving, cycling or staying overnight at Cabane de Bounavaux.

Vanil Noir and the normal route on the SE face (07/2017) © Neumann Oliver

Above Les Baudes. Vanil Noir is in the background. (08/2016) © Neumann Oliver

Cabane de Bounavaux CAS, Le Moléson is in the background. (07/2017) © Neumann Oliver

Vallon des Morteys and the Chalet des Marindes CAS (07/2017) © Neumann Oliver

Pas de la Borière, the crux on the ascent (07/2017) © Neumann Oliver

The descent from Vanil Noir on the SE face (07/2017) © Neumann Oliver

Vanil Noir viewed from Plan des Eaux (08/2016) © Neumann Oliver

Route description

Grandvillard – Cabane de Bounavaux – Col de Bounavaletta

From the Grandvillard railway station follow the road to the village of Grandvillard. Above the village take the road towards Les Baudes and Bounavau until a marked trail branches off to the right. Again on the road ascend to the ditch of the Rio des Marais. Now branch off to the left and follow the hiking trail along the creek to the bifurcation at P. 1264. From there ascend the alp access trail via Les Baudes and La Coudré (1367 m) to reach Cabane de Bounavaux (1636 m). Continue to Col de Bounavaletta (1995 m) via Bounavaletta.

Col de Bounavaletta – Vanil Noir – Plan des Eaux

On a steep, rather slippery path ascend the W ridge of Tête de l’Herbette and follow some ledges to a col (2181 m). Traverse the E face of Tête de l’Herbette on karst terrain to reach Pas de la Borière, a rocky breach, which requires some scrambling supported by steel cables. Follow the blue-white markings on the N ridge to reach the summit cross on Vanil Noir (2389 m). Descend the E ridge to a shoulder. From there traverse the steep S face interspersed with rock. The chains are a great help, but this is a precarious stretch nevertheless. Take a deep breath when you reach Plan des Eaux (2239 m).

Plan des Eaux – Cabane de Bounavaux – Grandvillard

Zigzag steeply down to Bounavaletta, where you meet the ascent route. Follow this route back to Cabane de Bounavaux and Grandvillard.

Variant: Traversing Tête de l'Herbette

It is more interesting to traverse Tête de l'Herbette. In this case, from P. 2181 ascend the NE ridge to reach the summit. The direct access on the W ridge without the traverse to P. 2181, as described in the printed version of the Fribourg alpine hiking guide, is not recommended (rotten rock). Continue on the exposed ridge (solid rock). Bypass a tower on the E side. Finally climb down to Pas de la Borière (2315 m), where you reach the normal route equipped with steel cables. Do not traverse the grassy E face, but instead follow the blue-white markings leading up on the right-hand side. You reach the N ridge and the summit cross on Vanil Noir (2389 m).

Additional information

Departure and arrival point

Grandvillard/ Villars-sous-Mont, Bahnhof (739 m)

An der tpf-Linie Palézieux – Bulle – Montbovon.

Get there Google Maps

Villars-sous-Mont

Time: Total hiking time: 8½ h

Grandvillard railway station – Cabane de Bounavaux: 3 h

Cabane de Bounavaux – Vanil Noir: 2¼ h

Vanil Noir – Cabane de Bounavaux: 1½ h

Cabane de Bounavaux – Grandvillard railway station: 1¾ h

Difficulty / Material: The routes on Vanil Noir are well equipped with steel cables and chains, but many precarious passages do need to be negotiated without technical help. The tour must not be undertaken in wet conditions!

Waypoints

Grandvillard, Dorf (761 m)

On weekdays Grandvillard can also be reached by bus from Bulle. Compared to the train you save 40 min.

Les Baudes (1270 m)

The tour can be shortened by driving or cycling to the Les Baudes parking lot (ca. 1270 m). It saves ca. 3¼ h.

Col de Bounavaletta (1995 m)

Pass between Vallée du Motélon and Vallon de Bounavaux, located between Tsermon and Tête de l'Herbette.

Tête de l'Herbette (2261 m)

Rocky summit in the Vanil Noir north ridge.

Col du Plan des Eaux (2239 m)

Pass between Vallon de Bounavaux and Vallon des Ciernes Picat, located between Vanil Noir and Vanil de l'Ecri; no name on the LK.

Catering and overnight stay

Cabane de Bounavaux (1636 m)

Located in the Vallon de Bounavaux, it sleeps 55. You do your own cooking, (only soup and beverages are available). The cabin is open and has a warden from the beginning of June through the beginning of October. SAC Section La Gruyère, www.cas-gruyere.ch, for reservations call +41 79 603 68 78.