Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla Mountains

The Aiguilles Rouges d’Arolla are a group of steep peaks above the village of Arolla in the Valais canton of Switzerland, forming part of the Pennine Alps. They are noted for sharp ridges and glaciated terrain.

The area offers routes for mountaineers and experienced trekkers, with access to glaciers and high alpine passes. Peaks and ridges present technical rock and ice challenges and are commonly combined with stays in alpine huts for multi-day traverses.

These summits are natural features of the Alpine orogen and have been explored and climbed since the development of alpine mountaineering; local routes and huts developed to support access over the 19th and 20th centuries.

The group rises above the village of Arolla in Valais, southern Switzerland, and is set within a high-alpine landscape of glaciers and valleys characteristic of the Pennine Alps.

• Mountaineering and trekking: Forms the steep, rocky skyline above the village of Arolla and is used as a base for mountaineering and high-alpine trekking in the Pennine Alps.

Arolla is reached by road from Sion or Martigny in Valais; from the village trailheads and mountain huts give access to the climbing routes. Local bus services connect to nearby towns in the summer season.

• Hike early to avoid afternoon heat and to catch good light on the glacier moraines.
• The Aiguilles Rouges offers lower-altitude trails with dramatic views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks; bring a camera with a telephoto lens.
• Combine routes with alpine refuges in Arolla for multi-day traverses.