The road to Lac des Dix in Valais, where the tallest gravity dam in the world stands
Switzerland, europe
17.4 km
2,141 m
hard
Year-round
# Lac des Dix: A Alpine Adventure
Nestled high in the Swiss Alps at 2,141m (7,024ft), Lac des Dix is a stunning high-altitude lake tucked away in Valais's Val d'Hérens. This is where serious mountain scenery meets impressive human ingenuity.
The main attraction? The Grande Dixence Dam—an absolute beast of engineering that holds the title of world's tallest gravity dam. Built between 1951 and 1965, this 285m (935ft) concrete giant collects glacial meltwater from a whopping 35 surrounding glaciers in the Zermatt region. It's genuinely awe-inspiring, and you can actually visit it yourself from mid-June through September.
Getting there is half the fun. The fully paved access road climbs 17.4 km (10.81 miles) from the village of Hérémence, and the last 5 kilometers? Pure hairpin turn heaven. These aren't gentle curves—they're steep, dramatic switchbacks that'll get your adrenaline pumping as you wind toward the dam's base. A parking area waits at the end for you to catch your breath (and the views).
Fair warning though: this road is strictly a summer affair. It shuts down from October through mid-June when winter weather takes over the mountain passes, so plan your visit for the warmer months when conditions allow safe passage.
Where is it?
The road to Lac des Dix in Valais, where the tallest gravity dam in the world stands is located in Switzerland (europe). Coordinates: 47.2840, 8.4568
Road Details
- Country
- Switzerland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 17.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,141 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 47.2840, 8.4568
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