Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla

The Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla are a rugged high-alpine ridge in the Swiss canton of Valais, stretching between the Lac des Dix reservoir to the west and the mountain village of Arolla to the southeast, reaching 3,646 metres at their highest point. The name — Red Needles — refers to the reddish hue of the jagged rock faces, which glow particularly intensely in evening alpenglow. The ridge sits at the heart of Valaisian alpinism: Arolla serves as the standard base for routes onto the chain, with ski touring popular in winter and high-alpine hiking in summer. On clear days the crest opens onto panoramic views of the surrounding four-thousanders, including peaks of the Mont Blanc and Matterhorn massifs.