Via ferrata des Rochers de Naye lies up from Montreux. Offers a stunning view over the Geneva lake and is a quite demanding one.
We packed our backpack and drove the car up to the parking lot near Col de Jaman (1512 m).
How to get there?
When you park your car where we did you take an easy trail up to train station ‘Jaman’ (1739 m). It’s an easy hike that offers already amazing views of Lake Geneva and Dent de Jaman (1875 m). If you’re being lazy you can always rely on Swiss trains.
From there on you start descending a bit just to go up more (as always). It’s really well marked so you won’t get lost plus you can see the via ferrata white board from far away.
Via ferrata des Rochers de Naye
It’s marked as K5+ and K5- . We did the second option this time since we were a bit out this day and it was enough for us anyway. We will come back though. You start your via ferrata fun on 1856 m and it ends on 1993 m. It’s around 600 metres long and you need force for it. The start is already quite demanding, then some traverse in the middle, ladder, more traverse and more up. To be honest I wasn’t sure if my physique is enough for it, but it turned out perfect. My chicken wings didn’t really feel much pain but they had a good workout.
It’s stunning. The views leave you breathless and make you want to stop every minute (which is not a good idea).
It is one of the most demanding via ferratas we did and it’s not the one to start your via ferrata adventure with.
Way down…
When we got to the top we were all excited! Via ferrata was demanding but it was all worth the pain (not that much pain..). To go down we chose to go through the Grottes de Naye, which is a labyrinth of tunnels, cracks in a limestone that was left behind after the glacier in Rochers de Naye melted out in the 20th century. Perfect way down with more excitement after via ferrata!
Practical information:
Starting point: Parking space on Col de Jaman (1512 m)
Target: Rochers de Naye (2042 m)
Hike lenght: Around 10 + km both ways. It took us 1 hour for via ferrata (quite easy tempo). 4 km to go up to via ferrata took us more than 1 hour with a break (341 m altitude change) . Going down – 6,5 km, 2 hours easy tempo.
Difficulty: Hike is not demanding. Via ferrata is marked as a hard one K5+ and K5- . Going through the Grottes de Naye might not be for all.
Tips: Via ferrata des Rochers de Naye is not the one you want to start with. It is for people who already have some via ferrata experience and are quite fit. Going through the Grottes de Naye will make your day even better. Don’t forget to take a headlamp and a jacket since it’s quite cold in the cave.
Text: Agnieszka Wajs
