Punta Regina (2385m), trail 7A

from Ranzola pass to Punta Regina

The last section of the trail to Punta Regina

Trail 7A starts from Ranzola Pass and arrives at Punta Regina (2385m). It is 760m long and the total positive elevation gain is 219m.
The approximate time for the ascent is 0h39. The trail is rated of difficulty E.

Warning: this trail is not actually a Gressoney-Saint-Jean trail, but it is a Brusson trail. The real trail 7A of Gressoney Valley leads from Balmeto to Alpenzù Piccolo. You couldn’t help but include this 7A in our list, because it starts at Ranzola Pass and ends at Punta regina, and I defy anyone to say that these are not two locations in Gressoney!

Punta Regina (also called “Punta della Regina“, “Queen’s Peak” in english) owes its name to the fact that Queen Margaret of Savoy climbed it on August 10, 1898. Given its proximity to the Weismatten chairlift station and the relative simplicity of its main access route (Trail 3A), it is a popular destination.

The ring around Punta Regina

If you want to climb to Punta Regina on your own, the best option is to get to the Ranzola Pass via the Trail 3 (starting from the valley floor, from the hamlet of Biel), and from the pass climb to the Peak following this trail 7A: being rather steep and on crumbly ground, fewer people venture on this section.

You can also get to the Ranzola pass from Weismatten by taking Trail 3B, which is in common with Trail 3A to the Gombetta basin: from the basin, 3B continues north, goes around the Punta Regina and arrives at the Ranzola pass.

The journey of Valsesian migrants

In the past, the pass was very popular: being almost perfectly aligned with the Col du Joux and the Col de Valdobbia, it was the ideal link for Valsesian emigrants who wanted to arrive in the Valle Grande d’Aosta and then go on to France.

In 1800 Russian-Austrian troops built the dry-stone wall that still stands galliardly, in defense against the Napoleonic army that was supposed to pass through it coming from the Great St. Bernard Pass. On June 20, 1857, Leo Tolstoy ascended there, and a plaque placed below a small statue of Our Lady commemorates his passage. There is also a small chapel at the hill.

More information on level of difficulty, ascent times, maps and GPX tracks

Photo Gallery

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

The Madonnina at the Ranzola Pass and the plaque commemorating Tolstoy's passage

The plaque commemorating the passage of Leo Tolstoy

The first section of the trail along the 19th-century fortification

Punta Regina, in the background from left Mount Taille, Mount Reina and Mount Nery

From Punta Regina looking toward Gressoney

From Punta Regina overview towards Estoul

Descending to the Colle Della Ranzola, which can be seen at the bottom.

1. Start and finish

Trail 7A bis starts from Colle Ranzola, the elevation is 2166m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.7546233041, 7.80331757959

The arrival location is Punta Regina. The altitude is 2385m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.7492265212, 7.80452573418

2. The route

To get to the Ranzola Pass, there are two main options: trail 3 that goes up from Biel (at the end of the road that continues past Queen’s Castle), or trail 3B that comes there from Weismatten.

Colle Della Ranzola is a pass between two peaks: to the north is Mount Ciosé, to the south is Punta Regina.

Punta Regina from Ranzola Hill

The path is perfectly marked because of the multitude of people walking along it. You follow it to the end of the “Napoleonic wall,” climb a first bump….

The first section of the trail along the 19th-century fortification

…past which the path appears in its entirety.

The last section of the trail to Punta Regina

Just follow it along the rapid turns and you will soon reach the summit, from which there are sweeping views to the northwest toward Monte Rosa and to the east toward Estoul and distant Mont Blanc.

From Punta Regina panoramic view toward Estoul

From Punta Regina overview towards Estoul

From Punta Regina looking toward Gressoney

In this photo, it can be seen that 7A is rather steep and on a slippery path, which is why those with children in tow prefer to use the opposite access, via path 3A.

Descending towards the Colle Della Ranzola, which can be seen at the bottom.

Descending to the Colle Della Ranzola, which can be seen at the bottom.

3. The GPX track

This is the map of the trail, according to the SCT Trail Cadastre of the Aosta Valley.

Download the trail in GPX format