Sentier des mines
EASY (0.5/10)Circular route from Vens
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Read the topography, inspect the climb, or preview the route over real terrain.
Route briefing
What comes next
Descents and decisive places in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Vens
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-10
About 0 min in
3.7 km remaining
+172 m remaining
Route note
200 m
Le Fays
Place
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 4 min in
3.5 km remaining
+161 m remaining
Descent
1.0 km
91 m descent
0.6 km at 14.7% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 20 min in
2.6 km remaining
+123 m remaining
Route note
1.2 km
Scex Rouge
Place
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 23 min in
2.5 km remaining
+122 m remaining
Route note
1.2 km
Les Places
Place
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 23 min in
2.5 km remaining
+122 m remaining
Route note
1.2 km
Saut du Oigne Blanc
Place
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 23 min in
2.5 km remaining
+122 m remaining
Finish
3.7 km
Vens
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-10
About 1h 10m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Sentier des mines is a 3.7 km circular easy hiking route in Switzerland, starting and finishing at Vens. The route covers 172m of ascent and 172m of descent, with elevations ranging from 1,340m to 1,434m. Allow approximately 1h 09m for the full route.
With 82% of the route below 15% gradient, strong trail runners can maintain a good rhythm for much of the distance. The steepest pitches reach 44% gradient.
Budget roughly 516 kcal of energy expenditure and 0.7 L of water.
Low-altitude route (max 1435m). Hikeable most of the year.
Segment Breakdown
Auto-analyzed from the elevation profile. Each segment shows the dominant character for planning your effort.
| Segment | Dist | ↑ / ↓ | Time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vens → km 1.2 (1414m) 1,392–1,435m | 1.2 km | +46m / -24m | 21 min | 🥾 Rolling Terrain |
km 1.2 (1414m) → km 2.4 (1394m) 1,341–1,414m | 1.2 km | +63m / -83m | 25 min | 🥾 Rolling Terrain |
km 2.4 (1394m) → Vens 1,378–1,414m | 1.2 km | +50m / -52m | 23 min | 🥾 Rolling Terrain |
| Total | 3.7 km | +172m / -172m | 1h 09m |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
Adjust your flat 10K pace to see personalized finish time, calorie burn, and hydration needs.
Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Tree cover and UV
🌲 Largely under trees. Good canopy at lower elevations, so the open sections are the ones to plan for.
Canopy is inferred from elevation against a 2000 m Alpine treeline and from gradient below it, not from observed tree data — treat it as an estimate. It is a different question from the terrain shade above, which is about whether a mountain is between you and the sun at a given time.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Sentier des mines is usually best from April to October. Snow is likely at the high point (1435 m) in December to March.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for on the trail (1,387 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this trail, around 1,338–1,435 m. Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Poor |
| Day / night | 0°/-7° | 2°/-6° | 7°/-2° | 11°/1° | 15°/6° | 19°/9° | 20°/10° | 20°/10° | 15°/6° | 11°/3° | 5°/-2° | 1°/-6° |
| Rain, mm | 80 | 71 | 58 | 54 | 86 | 88 | 78 | 77 | 69 | 78 | 84 | 92 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Frost | – | – | – | – | – | – | Possible | Likely |
| Daylight | 9 h | 10 h 20 | 11 h 49 | 13 h 30 | 14 h 55 | 15 h 44 | 15 h 26 | 14 h 13 | 12 h 37 | 11 h 01 | 9 h 30 | 8 h 40 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. These values describe the whole trail's lowest and highest points. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Current snow conditions
Insufficient evidence
Enable “Current snow map” in the route map’s Map layers to see the surrounding snow evidence. Current conditions do not describe a future departure date.
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 3.7 km, 172m ascent, max altitude 1434.7m, ~1h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 1L water bottleWater source information is incomplete; plan supplies before departure
- 🧴 SunscreenBasic sun protection
- 🧥 Light rain jacketWeather changes fast in the mountains
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🥢 Trekking poles (optional)172m ascent — helps on descents
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Nearby Points of Interest
📍 Nearby Places
- Scex Rouge km 1.2 · 2.2 km off trail
- Les Places km 1.2 · 2.2 km off trail
- Saut du Oigne Blanc km 1.2 · 2.3 km off trail
- Le Fays km 0.2 · 2.3 km off trail
- Tsenet des Fortsons km 1.2 · 2.3 km off trail
Route Details
- Network
- Local Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Vens
- End
- Vens
- Start Coordinates
- 46.09421, 7.12319
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
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Route resources
Specialist links and source details for this route. Everyday actions are kept in the route rail above.