Bisse du Ro — Crans-Montana to Tseuzier Barrage

13.86 kmDistance

4 hr 22 minRecorded hiking time

~440 m ↑Ascent (reverse direction)

1,923 mHighest point

Moderate / T2Difficulty

Crans-Montana → Bisse du Ro → Tseuzier Barrage

Day at a Glance

06:42–09:27

Zürich HB → Sierre/Siders

09:27–10:00

Transfer to funicular → Crans-Montana gare → walk to Bisse du Ro trailhead

10:00–14:44

Bisse du Ro hike → Tseuzier Barrage, including photo and rest stops

14:44–16:30

Enjoy Tseuzier Barrage • drinks/food at the restaurant • photos and rest

16:30

Bus departs Tseuzier Barrage

The Journey

I planned this hike twice. On my first attempt, a delayed bus caused me to miss the connection to Tseuzier Barrage. When I tried again on 13 August, my train from Bern toward Milan developed a technical problem. Rather than abandon the hike a second time, I reversed the route and started from Crans-Montana.

Starting in Crans-Montana

From Sierre/Siders station, I followed the red line toward the funicular. I just missed the first one because the doors had already closed, then took the next funicular to Crans-Montana. From the station, the approach passes a park and a small lake before the yellow signs point toward Bisse du Ro.

A peaceful start in Crans-Montana.

Follow the Bisse du Ro hiking signs from town.

Following the Historic Bisse

At the beginning of my walk the irrigation channel was dry. As I climbed higher, the scenery gradually opened to panoramic views of the surrounding 4,000-metre peaks. A bisse is one of Valais' traditional irrigation channels, built to carry mountain water across difficult terrain.

Engineering on the Cliffs

What impressed me just as much as the landscape was the engineering of the trail itself. Wooden boardwalks cling to the cliffs, allowing hikers to traverse terrain that would otherwise be extremely difficult. I felt grateful for the people who built and maintain these structures, making it possible for us to experience these mountains with relative ease.

An Unexpected Forest Encounter

One of the most unexpected sights of the day was a pig farm tucked away in the forest — not something I expected to encounter on this dramatic mountain trail!

From Forest to Open Mountains

After the covered forest, the character of the hike changed again. The trail emerged into the open and began climbing along a winding mountain path.

The Reward — Tseuzier Barrage

And then came the reward: the first view of the beautiful turquoise Tseuzier reservoir. I arrived at about 14:44, leaving plenty of time before the 16:30 bus to enjoy the scenery, take photographs and rest. It was sunny but surprisingly windy at the barrage. The restaurant was busy and had stopped serving lunch meals, although plenty of hikers were enjoying drinks.

Practical Tip: Which Direction?

I recommend starting at Tseuzier Barrage. Reversing the route worked for me because of the train disruption, but the barrage has very limited afternoon bus service. Crans-Montana has much more frequent onward connections, making Tseuzier → Crans-Montana the less stressful direction.

Sources & Useful Links

Hike at a Glance

My original collage from 13 August 2026.