Irrigation Channel Hike in the Savièse Region above Sion in Canton Valais

Wednesday May 13, 2026 -- It got quite cold again, and snowed down to below 1000 meters above sea level, even lower in some places not even in the mountains. More rain and snow and night-time temperatures of freezing expected, so it again becomes difficult to find good places for us to hike.

On this Wednesday we had plans to finally go to Canton Valais for a change (haven't been for a long time), where it is usually warmer, but when we were already on our way there with a planned hike in the Aletsch region near Riederalp we realized the weather forecast had changed and now low clouds were expected. So we changed plans along the way and headed westward down the Rhône Valley to Sion where the most sunshine was expected.

It ended up being an almost four-hour trip to get there, but we were able to organize a last-minute hike in the Savièse region above the city (farms, forests, ravines and vineyards) along several of the many irrigation channels (known as "bisses" here in the French-speaking part of Canton Valais) which are a life-line in this rather dry area (two of the ones we visited or walked along were built in the 13th Century and are the oldest in the Savièse Region). We had sunshine all day although the air was still pretty cool (maximum 16 degrees), and ended up doing a 14½-kilometer, 4-hour hike with little altitude gain and very nice trails, and weren't even tired afterwards! Although I did then sleep a bit on the 3½-hour train ride back home, as we only got on the 17:20 train back in Sion... so it was a late day for us. 

Having left home at 7:15 and changed our plans along the way, we were now on our way to Sion past the vineyards of the Rhône Valley at 10:30, scheduled to arrive in Sion at 10:38, where we changed to a bus. 

Seen from below, the Valère Basilica which thrones above the city of Sion. It features the oldest still playable organ in the world. (Although we did hike up to this building back in March 2016, we were not aware of the organ, and didn't even notice it at the time, as it was small and high up on a wall!)

Heading up the hillside (by bus) to the north of the city of Sion, we get a view of the mountains above Anzère. In fact, that valley is the valley of the Sionne River, where we will be walking along the first of several irrigation channels, the "Bisse de Grimisuat". 

The closest bus stop we could get to for the start of our hike at the "Bisse de Grimisuat" is along the main road from Botyre, from where we had also once started an Irrigation Trail hike to the source of the popular Bisse de Clavau, back in August 2021. From here we had to walk about 30 minutes via the village of Blignou to the start of the channel. We started on our hike here at just after 11 a.m. 

PART I: Bisse de Grimisuat and Bisse de Tsampé, Valley of the Sionne River. 

Some old Valais houses here. 

This one sports a date of 1698!!!

Starting at a bus stop near Botyre at just after 11 a.m., we followed first the Grimisuat Channel into the valley of the Sionne River, then crossed the valley (as well as the Drahin River Gorge) and descended along the Bisse de Tsanpé, and finally followed the Bisse de Lentine to Mont d'Orge, which we reached at 5 p.m. All three channels have water diverted (or originally diverted) from the Sionne River. Altogether this was a 14-km and four-hour walk, but not strenuous nor tiring. 

"Bisse" is the French word for the irrigation channels here in the French part of Canton Valais. In German they are called "Suonen". There are hundreds of these irrigation channels all along the hillsides here, some built over 700 years ago at great risk to lives, as this is a very dry region and it was the only way that the farmers could bring the water from the steep mountains to the Rhône Valley. 

To our south we are looking into the Val d'Hérens. The pointed peak at the far back on the left is called the Grand Dent de Veisivi.  

Passing a large field of Thyme. Clouds are blocking the view of the mountains to the north, but later we had some nice views. 

After a very small water course along the way, we finally start the hike along the main "Bisse de Grimisuat" at 11:45. This sluice shows how the water diverted from the mountain rivers into these man-made channels is now typically controlled for the watering of the farms below. 

The Grimisuat Irrigation Channel (Bisse de Grimisuat) carries water all year round, and is diverted from higher up the valley from the Sionne River. I could not find information about when this channel was built, but it is a more "recent" one. The Bisse de Tsanpé which we followed later was built in the 13th Century!

Following the "Bisse de Grimisuat", a rather tame flow of water. 

Always interesting along the way are the sluices. When the first channels were built, there were very strict rules about when and how long the various communities and hillsides were allowed to divert their water. 

The "Bisse de Grimisuat" diverts the water from the Sionne River at Planeige, where we are now headed up to, into the valley. 

A view down the Rhône Valley as we now head into the valley of the Sionne River. 

A nice and easy walk along the Grimisuat water channel. 

Along the way in a small clearing we spotted some of those local black cows called "Vaches d'Hérens" (Hérens Cattle). 

A variety of trails along the way. We are currently on the east side of the Sionne River Valley. 

A little detour around a small private property here. 

More bridges.
(Side note: Near here we also crossed the lower part of another channel called the "Bisse de Sion", a large water channel diverted from much higher up at the Lac de Tseuzier and which passes through the town of Anzère. This is a channel we have yet to walk. Here at this point where it joins the Sionne River, there was no water in the channel). 

VIDEO:

As this walk has a lot to do with water, 

there has to be at least one video of the sound of the water 

in the irrigation channel...

We then arrived at the highest point of our tour at Planeige (or Planège) at 12:45 p.m, the place where the water is diverted from the Sionne River into the Grimisuat Channel. The sight of the construction vehicles is a bit concerning... 

A map shows all the various hiking trails around here. Our plan is to head down the next one to the left to touch on another channel called "Bisse des Fontany" and then join the Bisse de Tsampé in the Drahin Gorge. 

Looking down from the bridge at the Sionne River on the right, and the Grimisuat Channel on the left. The water for the channel is diverted right here. 

As our hiking map—the official map of hiking trails in Switzerland—was not showing any closures of trails up here, we were very surprised to see this sign that claims the trail we were planning to take back down on the west side of the Sionne River (to Drône) was closed due to construction work in the region. There was no indication about how far down the trail was closed, or where we should detour. Luckily for us, according to the map, there was a trail further west, which descended via the Drahin Gorge.

The trail we wanted to follow descends from this lovely picnic spot. But we could see the red/white ribbons cutting off the access. So we stopped here for our lunch break before continuing on another trail further west at 1 p.m. This site is called Planège.

The alternate trail took us via this bridge over a ravine created by a river called the Drahin. On the other side of the ravine we joined the first of two irrigation channels originally created in the 13th Century, which once had its source higher up along this river. 

Crossing the Drahin Gorge on the Pont du Drahin. (The pipe here is probably where the water for the Déjore Channel was once diverted from the Sionne River where we had our picnic lunch, and carried underground about where we walked to here). 

Looking down the gorge from the bridge (Pont du Drahin). 

Along this trail we came across the "Bisse de Déjore" (or Dejour) which was once diverted from the Drahin River, and was originally buit in the 13th Century! Since then its source has changed often. In fact, the water was also once diverted from the Sionne River at the bridge where the Grimisuat channel has its source, and carried via underground pipes across the Pont du Drahin.  

Another alternative for a walk along a historical irrigation channel would have been to continue along the "Bisse de Déjore" and through the town of Prafirmin to join the "Bisse du Torrent Neuf", a particularly exhilirating irrigation channel which we had walked once before in June of 2017 and which I would walk again... but we kept to our original plan which was ultimately to walk the "Bisse de Lentine" further below. 

The two 13th Century irrigation channels Tsanpé and Déjore can be walked as a loop trail. Coming from across the Drahin Gorge, we descended to join the Tsanpé channel and down to the village of Drône. 

A single stone house with a very nice sitting area in front, as we descend through the forest to join the Tsanpé channel.  

The Tsanpé Channel (predates the year 1300 and originally also fed from the Drahin River) now has its source in the Fontany streams which starts right up at the place where we had our picnic lunch. Although it passes through underground pipes from there, it was the original path we wanted to hike, but was closed due to construction. So when we reached the channel lower down, we took a detour back to the Drahin Gorge to see where we would have descended to.  

It was an 800-meter detour which we took back to the Drahin Gorge to see where we would have descended to. The trail here was not closed, so the construction was higher up. We descended to the bridge over the Drahin River to see that the water for the Tsanpé channel is actually brought down from the region of the construction site to cross the gorge in a pipe, before continuing in the open channel which we are now following. Also, just below here, the Drahin River enters the Sionne. 

As we had already walked along the irrigation channel to the gorge, we returned on a lower trail through the forest. 

At one point in a clearing we get another look into the Val d'Hérens to the south. 

As the clouds lift a bit, we can again see the peaks of the Dents de Veisivi on the left. 

Now we are back along the "Bisse de Tsanpé", heading down towards the village of Drône. 

We are totally enjoying the walk along these narrow paths next to the irrigation channels. 

More Val d'Hérens Cattle in another clearing now. These cows are short and stocky, and we usually make large detours around them if our trail passes through their pastures! (not in this case). 

Out of the upper forest region now, we look back toward the valley of the Sionne River where we started our hike with an ascent along the Grimisuat Channel, at about the red line. (Above that is the town of Ardaz, from where you can follow even higher irrigation channels...)

And a close-up view far into the back of the valley where the Sionne River has its source on the flanks of the mountain called Le Chamossaire. Somewhat lower we observed the summit station of one of the many ski lifts above the popular resort town of Anzère. 

From here now to the east we see the town of Grimisuat (for which the channel is named) also on the far side of the Sionne Valley, and behind that the mountains of the Val d'Anniviers. 

Close-up of the village of Grimisuat, which we passed through by bus from Sion to the starting point of our hike near Botyre. 

And now at just after 3 p.m. we have reached the village of Drône, from where we will start on the second adventure of the day: A walk along the popular "Bisse de Lentine" with views of the city of Sion. 

PART II: Bisse de Lentine from Drône to Mont d'Orge

What a beautiful building!

On the main road is the little chapel, built in 1634, renovated in 1987 and 2022

This interesting chapel, built in 1634, has an "open" entrance side!

Some more very old Valais houses here in the village of Drône. (There is a date above the script right below the roof overhang, but I neglected to check it!) 

A sign shows us that we are on our way to the local themed trail no.212: "Bisses de Lentine et de Mont d'Orge". (These are two separate irrigation channels, but we are only walking on the first part as we did the "Bisse de Mont d'Orge" back in December 2019.)

The description of this themed trail from our Hiking Website. 

I had never see the vines cut down this low!

Looking up toward the houses in Drône as we now head down toward the Sionne River.  

This whole region of the Rhône Valley is ideal for growing of grapes and production of popular wines because of its sunny and warm climate. But this is also the reason that there must be a source of water, and why the water from the mountains has so painstakingly been diverted to these hillsides via the hundreds of irrigation channels.  

Another view up the valley of the Sionne River to the peak called Le Chamossaire

Our view down into the gorge where we are now headed to meet the Sionne River, which flows through the city of Sion below and into the Rhône river there.  

Amazing now that we are back at the banks of the Sionne River after having crossed it further up at  Planeige. 

A short distance along and we come to the spot where the water for the Lentine Irrigation Channel is diverted from the Sionne River. This channel is 4½ kilometers and flows into the lake at Mont d'Orge, while watering the vineyards above the city of Sion. 

VIDEO:

Where the water from the Sionne River 

is diverted into the Lentine Irrigation Channel

Many interesting features on this trail along the Lentine irrigation channel. 

VIDEO:

A couple of sections of the Lentine Irrigation Channel

A lovely and easy walk, always with the sound of the water.

Sometimes the water is caught up in metal troughs. It is also quite a job to clean these channels in spring. 

A look behind us at all the vineyards watered by this irrigation channel. 

Nearing the opening of the Sionne River Valley into the Rhône Valley. The river now flows much further down in the gorge. 

Some of the snow-covered peaks to the west now appear above the vast vineyards. 

Vast vineyards on this hillside above the city of Sion. 

Close-up view of the Valère Basilica from the vineyard trail. 

A view behind us where we descended from Drône (arrow at the back), and the walk along the irrigation channel through the vineyards.  

This now is a view to the ruins of the Tourbillon Castle, which is on a separate hill from the Valère church, but also overlooking the city of Sion. 

Panorama view below us of the city of Sion, the ruins of the Tourbillon Castle on the nearer hill, and the Valère Basilica on the further hill. 

Rounding a corner now we get the first look at the hill called Mont d'Orge, where our hike stops at the road below that. Back in December 2019 we hiked to the top of that hill where there is another fortress ruins, and after rounding the hill, continued along the second of the featured channels here, i.e. "Bisse de Mont d'Orge". 

The stone walls which form the terraces for the vineyards are also a special feature of this region. 

Now we get a nice view to the East up the Rhône Valley.  

Urs is admiring the stone steps build into the wall, which provide access to the upper terrace. I admired the little poppy flowers growing out of the wall!

Another view of the site of the Valère Basilica. We hiked up to both the Basilica and the Fortress Ruins after our hike along the Clavau Irrigation Channel in March 2016. The Basilica features the oldest still playable organ in the world, which we missed out on as we weren't aware of it, and it was so small high up on the wall... (Well, we didn't read the information placards before going in...). 

A close-up view of the ruins of the "Chateau de Tourbillon", which we also visited at the end of our March 2016 hike along the Bisse de Clavau. 

Beautiful colours!

Final stretch to the main road at the base of Mont d'Orge. We would have liked to do a detour to the lake (last time we were here it was all in the shadow of the mountain), but it is now 16:46, and we really need to catch the 17:04 bus back to Sion, as the next bus is only 45 minutes later. We made it to the bus stop with 10 minutes to spare. 

What our 14-km hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. We started near Botyre at just after 11 a.m., and got to the Mont d'Orge bus stop at just before 5 p.m. We were on our way back home from Sion train station by 17:20 for the 3½-hour trip back home.  

The 17:04 bus back to Sion. We are a bit concerned about the possibility of end-of-business-day traffic in the city, as we really wanted to catch the 17:20 train back home... 

A view over the city on the bus ride back down from Mont d'Orge. 

Final view of the magnificent Valère Basilica. (We had had a fleeting thought of heading up there again to view the old organ inside the Basilica, but after 14 kilometers of walking and a long trip back home, we are going to defer that visit once again...)

Even with city traffic, we JUST made it for the 17:20 train for the 3½-hour trip home. There are a lot of people waiting for the train westward toward lake Geneva....

These are all the hikes we have done in the region around Sion, many of them are hikes along various irrigation channels called "Bisses" here in the French-speaking part of Canton Valais. 

Location of Sion within Switzerland.