Sion to Col du Sanetsch (driving tour)

This driving tour to the Col du Sanetsch is 27km/17mi; to the Sanetschsee 32km/20mi.

Road 2-6 m/7-20ft wide, maximum gradient 18% (1 in 5.5); closed in winter. The winding road runs northwest from Sion - 5km/3mi: St Germain (820 m/2,690ft). The road then passes through the commandingly situated villages of Granois (857 m/2,812ft) and Chandolin (818 m/2,684ft) and turns north above the wild valley of the Morge.

6km/4mi: Pont du Diable (919 m/3,015ft), where it crosses to the right bank. It then continues winding its way uphill, crosses the Morge again and later the Nétage, and climbs, with many turns to (16km/10mi) the Col du Sanetsch or Col de Senin (2,243 m/7,359ft), on a ridge between the Arpelistock (3,035 m/9,958ft) to the east and the Sanetschhorn (Mont Brun, 2,942 m/9,653ft) to the west. From both of these peaks (respectively 3.5 and 2.5 hours' climb from the pass) there are magnificent views. The road continues for another 5km/3mi to the dam (42 m/138ft high) at the north end of the Sanetschsee, a reservoir (2.7million cu. m/95million cu. ft) on the upper course of the River Saane (Sarine).