Refuge de Saint-Laurent
Switzerland, europe
N/A
2,492 m
hard
Year-round
# Refuge de Saint-Laurent: A Summer Alpine Adventure
Perched at a dramatic 2,492 meters (8,175 feet) in the Swiss canton of Valais, the Refuge de Saint-Laurent is a serious mountain destination for serious drivers. Located in the Nendaz municipality, this remote alpine hideaway sits in one of Switzerland's most spectacular corners.
The road up is not for the faint of heart—it's a narrow, unpaved gravel route that barely fits two cars side by side (so single-file traffic is basically mandatory). Expect steep grades and multiple hairpin turns as you wind your way up alongside a pristine mountain lake. But here's the payoff: the drive offers absolutely stunning views overlooking the Val de Nendaz, with panoramic vistas stretching all the way to the dramatic Bernese Alps chain. It's genuinely beautiful, genuinely remote, and genuinely unforgettable.
Fair warning: this is strictly a summer adventure. Come November through May, the snow shuts this road down completely, and even during the official season, conditions can force closures without notice if the access road isn't properly cleared. Check conditions before you head up.
Feeling extra adventurous? A rough gravel track continues beyond the refuge itself, climbing another 66 meters to 2,558 meters (8,392 feet). If you've made it this far, you might as well go the distance.
Where is it?
Refuge de Saint-Laurent is located in Switzerland (europe). Coordinates: 46.8705, 8.8742
Road Details
- Country
- Switzerland
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,492 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.8705, 8.8742
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