Col de Joux, Mountain pass in Saint-Vincent, Italy.
Col de Joux is a mountain pass situated at roughly 1640 meters connecting the central Dora Baltea valley with the Val d'Ayas. A paved road leads to the top, and from here several hiking trails branch out into the surrounding slopes.
For centuries, the pass served as a main route for emigrants from the Aosta Valley traveling through Val Vogna and Valdobbia toward Savoy and France. These migration patterns shaped the region's story and connections across borders.
The name Joux comes from ancient pre-Latin words describing wooded mountains, though scholars debate whether it connects to the Latin term for ridge. Visitors can sense this linguistic heritage reflected in the mixed landscape of forest and open slopes.
The pass is easily accessible from both Saint-Vincent and Brusson via paved road, making a car journey straightforward. Hiking trails start directly from the pass and vary in difficulty and length to suit different fitness levels.
The pass holds the final stretch of Ru Courtod, a 14th-century irrigation canal that runs from the Ventina glacier all the way down to here. This ancient water system reveals how communities have used mountain heights to channel water for centuries.
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