Bella Tola

Mountain Alpine peak in Valais popular with hikers

Around 3,000 metres in Valais above Saint‑Luc, Bella Tola offers marked hikes, spring alpine meadows and ski‑tour routes; hikers and backcountry skiers use it for panoramic views across the Pennine Alps.

Main image

Bella Tola is a mountain in the canton of Valais in southern Switzerland, standing above the Anniviers valley. It is a prominent local peak and a popular target for hikers and ski tourers.

The summit area offers panoramic views over surrounding 3,000‑metre peaks and the Val d’Anniviers; routes from nearby villages involve alpine trails and exposed ridgelines. Trails are used in summer for hiking and in winter for ski touring; distances and times vary by approach but most routes require several hours of ascent from valley trailheads.

The mountain is part of the Pennine Alps and has been used traditionally for pastoral grazing in its lower slopes and for recreational mountaineering since the 19th century. Local alpine huts and trail markers have developed around established routes.

Located in Valais above the Anniviers valley, the mountain sits close to small alpine villages such as Saint-Luc and Chandolin, within reach of the regional transport hubs in the canton. The area is high mountain terrain with alpine meadows and rocky summits.

  • Access and routes: Summit is accessible from the village of Saint-Luc and from several marked hiking routes, typically taking a full day from the valley settlements.
  • Activities: Alpine meadows and panoramic views make it a common objective for summer hikers and ski tourers in winter.
Bella Tola
46.2391, 7.6537

How to Get to Bella Tola #

Access from St-Luc (Val d’Anniviers). From Sierre, take the bus or the regional train to Sierre then bus up-valley to St-Luc (about 45-60 minutes). Trails are well-marked from the village.

Tips for Visiting Bella Tola #

  • The Bella Tola hut (Cabane Bella Tola) is a good staging point for summits-book in advance during summer mountain season.
  • For classic approaches, start from St-Luc (Val d'Anniviers) and take the trail that ascends via alpine meadows and rocky ramps.
  • Winter ascents require alpine skills and avalanche awareness; summer routes can have late snow above 2,500 m.

Best Time to Visit Bella Tola #

Late June-September for hiking; December-April for ski touring depending on snowpack and avalanche conditions.

Summer (Hiking)
June-September · 5-18°C in valleys, colder above tree line
Alpine trails are mostly clear; hut access is open and wildflowers mat the slopes.
Winter (Ski Touring)
December-April · -10°C to 2°C depending on altitude
Popular for ski touring; avalanche conditions demand careful route selection.

Weather & Climate near Bella Tola #

Climate

Bella Tola's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with cold summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -12°C to 9°C. Moderate rainfall (802 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustSeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
23°
Warmest Month
-29°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is freezing with highs of -6°C and lows of -11°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

29 Poor

Comfort

-9°
Feels Like Freezing
-9°C
Temperature
-11° -6°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

73 mm
Rainfall
6.4 m/s
Wind
Breezy
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.9h daylight

February

February is the coldest month with highs of -6°C and lows of -12°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

29 Poor

Comfort

-9°
Feels Like Freezing
-9°C
Temperature
-12° -6°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

69 mm
Rainfall
6.1 m/s
Wind
Breezy
0.3
UV Index
Low
10.2h daylight

March

March is freezing with highs of -6°C and lows of -11°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm), partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.

31 Poor

Comfort

-9°
Feels Like Freezing
-9°C
Temperature
-11° -6°
87%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

75 mm
Rainfall
6.2 m/s
Wind
Breezy
0.6
UV Index
Moderate
11.8h daylight

April

April is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -10°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

35 Poor

Comfort

-7°
Feels Like Freezing
-7°C
Temperature
-10° -4°
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

68 mm
Rainfall
5.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
High
13.4h daylight

May

May is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -5°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

35 Poor

Comfort

-2°
Feels Like Freezing
-2°C
Temperature
-5°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

68 mm
Rainfall
5.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.4
UV Index
High
14.8h daylight

June

June is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1°
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

61 mm
Rainfall
5.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.7
UV Index
Very High
15.6h daylight

July

July is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

60 Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

58 mm
Rainfall
5.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.8
UV Index
Very High
15.2h daylight

August

August is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

64 mm
Rainfall
4.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.5
UV Index
High
14.0h daylight

September

September is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

50 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

58 mm
Rainfall
5.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
Moderate
12.4h daylight

October

October is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Freezing
C
Temperature
-3°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

62 mm
Rainfall
5.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.5
UV Index
Moderate
10.7h daylight

November

November is freezing with highs of -2°C and lows of -7°C. The wettest month with 77 mm of rain, mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

31 Poor

Comfort

-5°
Feels Like Freezing
-5°C
Temperature
-7° -2°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

77 mm
Rainfall
6.3 m/s
Wind
Breezy
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.3h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -10°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

29 Poor

Comfort

-7°
Feels Like Freezing
-7°C
Temperature
-10° -5°
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

69 mm
Rainfall
6.5 m/s
Wind
Breezy
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.5h daylight

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