Anzère: Hiking Trails, Bisses and Winter Activities

Anzère is a village in the municipality of Ayent in the canton of Valais. When looking for a hotel, you can consider which activities you want to shape your stay: hiking and views, snowshoe trails and cross-country skiing, climbing, or a visit to Anzère Spa & Wellness. For several winter activities, snow and safety conditions are decisive, so they should be factored into your daily plans.

Hiking and views

A total of 166 km of hiking trails run around Anzère. They pass through green alpine pastures and shady forests, follow bisses, cross rocky peaks and mountain passes, and lead to high-altitude lakes. The choice of route depends on the conditions at the time.

One prominent viewpoint is Pas de Maimbré, at an altitude of 2,362 m. From there, you can see the Rhône Valley and the four-thousand-metre peaks opposite Anzère. This gives you a specific viewpoint to include in your plans, while the network of trails around the village offers a wider variety of landscapes.

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledging

The Le Gô cross-country ski trail is almost entirely flat, is suitable for learning to cross-country ski, and is free of charge. Its availability depends on snow conditions. Anzère has 30 km of marked snowshoe trails. The Les Mayens snowshoe trail starts at the gondola station and passes through a section of forest alongside the Bisse de Sion. The snowshoe trails are open depending on safety and snow conditions.

Rando parc Anzère offers two possible starting points: the start of the Route des Mayens du Gô near the paid Bonnefille car park, or the gondola car park. The route goes via La Brune and the Bordet ridge to Pas de Maimbré. Before setting out, check local information on snow, avalanche and opening conditions. The secured Village sledging run has a fully free magic carpet to take you uphill; its operation depends on snow and safety conditions.

Bisses, climbing and wellness

Bisses are traditional irrigation channels and are closely linked to Anzère’s history. Since the 14th century, gently sloping channels have been built to carry water from streams and rivers to agricultural land, including meadows and vineyards. Their history connects the supply of water with the cultivation of these lands.

Climbing and relaxation are also possible focuses for a stay. The climbing areas around Anzère include more than 300 routes. The grades range from 4 for beginners and children to 9a for experts. As route conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before setting out. Anzère Spa & Wellness has an indoor and an outdoor pool, massage jets, bubble loungers and a waterfall.

Getting there and local history

Anzère can be reached from Sion by PostBus. In winter, the shuttle buses are free for everyone; in summer, free use is linked to the Anzère-Liberté Pass. Regular PostBus services are not included. Check the timetable and shuttle conditions before travelling.

Two separate dates are part of the village’s early history: the first grocery shops in Anzère opened in 1957. In 1958, the Ayent municipal council considered the possibility of developing what would later become the village of Anzère. The two details thus refer both to the first shops and to a later municipal review of the village’s development.

For the broader travel overview: Ayent.