Punta Regina (2382m), trail 3A

from Weismatten to Punta Regina

Punta dlla Regina

Trail 3A starts from Weismatten and arrives at Punta Regina (2382m). It is 2672m long and the total positive elevation gain is 397m.
The approximate time for the climb is 1h15. The trail is rated of difficulty E.

A large group climbs to the summit

The route starts from the arrival of the Weismatten chairlift (here for information on schedule and fares), which can also be reached on foot via Trail 2. Punta Regina (also known as Punta della Regina, “Queen’s Peak” in english) is definitely the most popular of Gressoney-Saint-Jean’s destinations. Named so because on August 10, 1898, Queen Margaret of Savoy arrived there, if reached by ascending to Weismatten by chairlift it represents an easy, short walk within the reach of any hiker, even the untrained.

However, it is a mountain trail: at one point particularly at risk of slipping, there are safety cables to facilitate passage, so it should not be approached lightly. Certainly, dozens of families with small children travel it in the summertime, so the few technical difficulties are easily overcome. It can be said to be one of the ideal trips when accompanying friends who are used to the sea and want to experience the thrill of a real mountain hike.

The Belvedere

Along the trail, in addition to the famous Belvedere, various other viewpoints are encountered that offer spectacular views of the entire Gressoney valley all the way to Rosa. From the summit the view is remarkable, and almost 360 degrees: it only disturbs the neighboring Mont Ciosé, which hides part of the Rose Range, but you can see on clear days the distant Mont Blanc, as well as of course the main surrounding peaks (Mont Nery, Mont Rena, Mont Taille, Red Horn, Valdobbia Horn.), and with binoculars you can make out theslender hospice In the hollow of the opposite Valdobbia Pass.

The loop trail around Punta Regina

In addition to the route described in this fact sheet, which reaches the summit by climbing to it from the south side, there is an alternative route that climbs to it from the north side, which is slightly less traveled: first you have to come from the valley floor to the Colle Ranzola via the path 3, then you take the trail 7A That quickly, but … steeply, connects the pass with the summit.

As an alternative to returning to Weismatten by the same route as the outward journey, one can descend from the summit via trail 7A to the Ranzola Pass, and from the pass return to the Gombetta basin via the very short trail 3B, thus completing a loop around Punta Regina.

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

Photo Gallery

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The pole in front of the Mollino shelter

You go up toward that mountainous shoulder

The adventurous stretch with steel cables

There are some scenic openings on the trail

Approaching the scree before Lake Gombetta

The path climbs in the direction of the Garda Pass

Lake Gombetta and the various trails around Punta Regina

From the summit, the path coming from the Belvedere

From the summit, the Gombetta basin (May 2021)

The Ayas Valley from the summit (May 2021)

The basin of Lake Gombetta, evident the path down from the Belvedere

1. Start and finish

Trail 3A starts from Weismatten, the elevation is 2041m.
See on Google Maps.

Latitudine e longitudine (WGS84 - EPSG 4326): 45.7483138513, 7.82499961266

The arrival location is Punta Regina. The altitude is 2382m.
See on Google Maps.

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

2. Trail map

In front of the Carlo Mollino hut is the post indicating directions for trails 3A (to Punta Regina) and 1A (to Frudière Pass).

The pole in front of the Mollino shelter

3A starts off to the right, The trail is always excellently marked, gently ascending several ups and downs within a not too dense forest of larch and stone pine.

The beginning of the trail

Continue to climb until you reach, at about 2161m, the Prato Bianco Wissomattò hut 2161m

Prato Bianco Wissomattó, 2161m

To the right of Alpe Pra Bianco, a trail marker can be seen: it is Trail 1C, which goes over Pra Bianco Pass to the Garda Pass. We are to stay on trail 3A, which continues conspicuously to the right in the direction of the nearby mountain shoulder. After a few turns, at 2178m, you cross a perfectly “tamed” scree.

Crossing the scree (2178m)

Once the scree has ended, the short mountain shoulder is climbed: when the trail turns left, two vantage points are encountered one after the other, offering wonderful views of Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Monte Rosa. It is not clear to me which of the two is the so-called “Belvedere”: I think it is the second one, the one with a large rock at the base.

The Second Belvedere (July 2006)

Pass the second lookout and reach the top of this section of trail at about 2187m, and begin to descend on the other side of the ridge facing north. We follow an initial section of path carved into the rock with (obviously) nontrivial rocky steps, certainly slippery in rain, but facilitated by safety ropes attached to the wall. As you can tell from the photo below, the kids are having fun grabbing at the ropes, but don’t let your guard down because on the other side the path falls rather precipitously.

The adventurous stretch with safety ropes

The trail continues halfway up the hill, always losing altitude slightly or climbing very slightly. The destination of the trail finally appears, the mound of Punta Regina in front of us. At 2100m we cut one last scree…

Approaching the scree before Lake Gombetta

…and you finally access the basin of Lake Gombetta, right at the foot of Punta Regina…

Punta Regina

At this point you cross a trail coming from the right: this is Trail 3B, which leads to Colle Ranzola, circling around the base of Punta Regina.

Instead, we have to go left, in the direction of the small pass (the Garda Pass) seen on the ridge behind Gombetta Lake, clearly visible in the photo below.

The path climbs in the direction of the Garda Pass

The slope from here begins to increase. It climbs almost to the pass, crossing nearby the tracks of an additional trail that veers to the left, 1B, heading to Monte Rena. 3A, on the other hand, continues to the right, keeping below the ridge for a long point section, and overcoming the last few meters before the summit with a few sharp turns.

Highlighted in the image below is this final section of the trail, from the end of the second scree slope onward (Lake Gombetta is the dry depression on the lower left).

The final climb

The arrival at Punta Regina (2382m) holds remarkable views of Gran Paradiso, Mont Blanc and a good portion of Rosa.

The Rose from the summit

Descent to the Colle Ranzola

Instead of returning to Weismatten by the outward route, you can descend from the opposite slope via the steep Trail 7A to the Ranzola Pass. I do not recommend this route for very young children because the terrain is quite landslidey and slippery.

From the pass we then return to the Gombetta basin via the very short trail 3b, thus completing a loop around Punta Regina. From there, you return to Weismatten by retracing the 3A trail made on the way out.

If you wish, you can return directly to the valley from the pass by following Trail 3 instead, which ends a few meters away from the beginning of Trail 2.

Colle Ranzola from Punta Regina

This image shows the various routes that can be followed around Punta Regina.

The ring around Punta Regina

3. The GPX track

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