Via Ferrata Echelles de la Mort

Duration

5 min

Distance

702 m

Ascent

-

Descent

-

Elevation

-

From the Le Refrain car park, a short stroll of about 5 minutes leads to the start of the via ferrata. Those arriving by public transport can walk from Biaufond, Douane along the north bank of the Doubs river to the same car park, taking roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.

Duration

-

Distance

362 m

Ascent

110 m

Descent

-

Elevation

657 m

The route starts with a wooden ladder and rock step, followed by a wooden bridge, then continues downstream across a limestone wall using iron rungs and a wooden beam before a steep corner and a narrow vertical ladder. The path then turns to head upriver; an early exit toward the old Echelles de la Mort ladders is possible here for those wanting to bail out. A long, unstable wooden bridge follows, then a descent to an earthy ledge before an even longer suspension bridge crossable by only one person at a time, with the rusted historic Echelles de la Mort ladders visible below. The route continues with exposed up-and-down climbing along the limestone face, compared to the Hinterstoisser Traverse but better protected, followed by another easier rope bridge, a standard ladder, and a telegraph-pole section. At the final junction, climbers can choose the Tyrolienne on the left or the standard exit on the right.

Duration

15 min

Distance

702 m

Ascent

-

Descent

-

Elevation

-

From the normal (third) exit of the via ferrata, turn right to reach the Belvédère viewpoint at 657 m. From there, descend a series of metal ladders and follow the path back down to the Le Refrain car park, a descent of about 15 minutes.