Trient Gorges in Vernayaz: a canyon on walkways for the family

A spectacular canyon at the end of a walkway

At the exit of Vernayaz, the Trient torrent has carved a narrow and deep fissure in the rock over the millennia. To discover it, one takes a gallery of wooden walkways fixed to the wall, right at the roaring water's edge. The walls rise in places to nearly 200 meters, and up there pass two of the highest bridges in Europe. It's a short visit, about twenty minutes, easy and impressive, perfect for a cool outing in the middle of a Valais summer. The site has been developed and secured for a long time and remains one of the main attractions of the valley.

What your children will discover

Children walk above the torrent, feel the coolness rising from the water, and listen to the echo rumbling between the walls. They observe how the water has sculpted the rock, spot the light making its way up at the top of the fissure, and look up at the bridges suspended in the sky. It's a sensory immersion in a setting that adventure books do not deny, with that reassuring little thrill offered by the well-protected walkways.

What to do there and the atmosphere on site

You buy your ticket at the entrance, then quietly venture into the gorge on the walkways, stopping to observe and photograph. The round trip takes about twenty minutes, without difficulty, in a cool and calm atmosphere. It's a short outing that one gladly combines with another discovery of the region. Good to know: the site closes during heavy rain for safety reasons, and it is significantly cooler in the gorge than outside.

Before you go

• Recommended age: from 4-5 years for children comfortable on walkways; toddlers can be carried in a baby carrier.
• Duration: about 20 to 30 minutes for the visit, round trip.
• Price: paid. Indicative rates for 2026: adult 8 CHF, child (6-16 years) 6 CHF, family ticket 25 CHF (2 adults + 2 children). To be confirmed on the official site.
• Reservation: not necessary; tickets available at the entrance.
• Stroller/Accessibility for disabled persons: not suitable (walkways and stairs).
• Transport: CFF station of Vernayaz just steps away (Simplon line and Mont-Blanc Express); by car, A9 exit Martigny then Vernayaz.
• What to bring: a light sweater (it is cool in the gorge), closed shoes.
• Ideal season: open from around mid-May to October; closed in winter and during heavy rain.

Parents' tips

• Bring a jacket: the temperature drops significantly in the gorge, even during a heatwave.
• Keep young children close to you above the torrent, despite the railings.
• Check the weather before leaving: the site closes during heavy rain.
• Combine the visit with the Pissevache waterfall, nearby in Vernayaz.
• Arrive early in the morning during the summer to enjoy the calm.

Useful information

• Address: Grand-Rue 1, 1904 Vernayaz (ticket office at the entrance of the site).
• Official site: vernayaz.ch (section Gorges du Trient).
• Hours: open from around mid-May to October, generally 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM, and 7 days a week in the height of summer. Closed during heavy rain. Check the updated hours before leaving.
• Access: CFF station of Vernayaz just steps away; A9 exit Martigny then Vernayaz.

Want more outings? Find all our activities in Vernayaz.

Why we recommend it

Because in about twenty minutes, effortlessly, we immerse children in a spectacular and refreshing setting, accessible by train and featuring a family rate. A short but memorable nature outing, ideal for a summer morning or to complement a day of discoveries in Valais.

In two words

A refreshing and spectacular dive into a canyon, on wooden walkways above the torrent, just steps from the Vernayaz station.