23 Jun Why September is the best month to hike the Alps
Want to know why September is the best month to hike the Alps? Ask any serious Alpine guide when they personally prefer to hike, and most will say September. Not July, when the wildflowers are at their peak. Not August, when the trails are long and the evenings warm. September. The reason has nothing to do with the trails themselves — which are excellent in all three months — and everything to do with what surrounds them. The light. The quiet. The weather. The food. And, above all, the particular quality of being in the Alps in early autumn, when the summer is just beginning to let go.
Here is why our guides believe September is the best month to hike the Alps.
The weather is more stable
The received wisdom about the Alps is that summer equals good weather and autumn equals instability. In reality, the pattern is more nuanced.
July and August in the Alps bring warm temperatures, but also afternoon thunderstorms. A consequence of moisture-laden air rising rapidly over hot terrain. These storms can be dramatic and, at altitude, potentially dangerous. Experienced guides plan around them by timing high-altitude sections for the morning, but they are a factor throughout the peak summer season. September changes the atmospheric dynamics. Cooler temperatures reduce the convective energy that drives afternoon storms. The mornings are crisp and clear, and the clarity of the air gives views of extraordinary sharpness. On a clear September morning at 2,500 metres, you can see ranges that are invisible in the heat haze of August.
The light is extraordinary
In summer a high, direct sun flattens the landscape and bleaches the snow. In September, the sun rises later and sets sooner, creating longer periods of golden-hour light. The warm, low-angle illumination that photographers wait months for. A high valley in the Aosta region in late September, with the larches in full colour against the grey rock and white snow above, is one of the most beautiful natural spectacles in Europe.
The Italian wine harvest
In September the Aosta Valley is host to an added dimension that has nothing to do with the trail. The Aosta Valley wine harvest typically runs through September and into October, depending on the altitude of the vineyards and the summer’s conditions. The grapes grown here — Petit Rouge, Fumin, Cornalin, Prié Blanc — are varieties found almost nowhere else in the world. They are grown on terraced vineyards at altitude that have been producing wine since Roman times. In September, the activity around these vineyards is visible and tangible. Grapes are being picked. Cellars are being opened. Producers find a particular generosity of spirit in harvest season, and with the right introduction — which our guides can provide — it is possible to visit producers in a way that is genuinely intimate rather than touristic.
A late-September lunch in a Valdostan cantina with a plate of cold meats and local cheeses, a glass of something that was still grapes a few weeks ago, and a direct view of the mountains is an experience which does not translate into a photograph.
What to know about September hiking
Practical considerations need to be kept in mind when hiking in Septermber, including the fact that high-altitude cable cars and mountain refuges often close between the 15th and 30th of September. Our guides plan routes carefully around these closures, but it is worth knowing. Days are also starting to become shorter, and early mornings can also be cold. At altitude in September, mornings can begin at 2-5°C even when the afternoon reaches 18°C. Layers are essential, and our pre-trip kit guidance covers this in detail. With all this in mind, we must not forget that in September the trails really are in excellent condition. September comes at the end of the summer maintenance season, when paths have been walked continuously for three months and any post-winter damage has been repaired. The surface underfoot is typically firm and reliable.
Now you know why September is the best month to hike the Alps
Because September has become an increasingly sought-after month among experienced hikers and luxury travellers, we recommend getting in touch in advance. To lock in your private guide and experience those beautifully-lit, perfectly maintained paths before it’s too late, get in touch.
Warmest regards from the mountains,
Danielle