Cycling Routes in Chamonix — 7 of Our Favourites

The road south of Martigny provides a start point for tackling the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard (remember to take lights for the tunnel stretches – expect plenty of traffic).

From Cluses you can ride into the Col de Colombier and up to Flaine.

If you go to Morzine, you can tackle the Col de Joux Vert climb to Avoriaz and the Col de Joux Plane.

Annecy is a good venue for a family day out. There is an excellent cycle track running along the south-west side of the lake – virtually no traffic and pancake flat.

Cycling in Chamonix is not what the resort is famous for but there are undoubtedly a few winning bike rides in the valley.

Depending on your fitness it could be in excess of four hours so pack plenty to drink and some energy snacks.

The route is simple, up and over the Col des Montets, down to the Swiss border (I’ve never been stopped but I usually take my driver’s licence for ID – time will tell if this is good enough to avoid problems) then carry on for some 1,000m and turn left at the large brown sign for Barrage d’Emosson towards Finhaut. From here Emosson is clearly signed and is uphill all the way.

The first section of the ride takes you uphill and away from the busy main road, into a quiet residential area where most of the buildings are either farmhouses or traditional alpine chalets. The road snakes back and forth, with the land in between the bends being mostly farmed fields or wild meadows.

The first village you pass through is Passy, a small place with an old-fashioned French feel. There is a tourist office and a few small shops and cafés.

The middle section of the ride, between Passy and Plateau d’Assy, is the hardest being a fairly consistent 7% for most of the 5km that lie between the two. Not a super-steep climb but enough to make you feel like you’ve put in a bit of effort.

After about 10km you'll come to the town of Plateau d’Assy; there is really just one main street with a few more shops and cafés, but nothing in particular to stop for. There is a turn-off to the right but ignore this and carry on climbing, following the signposts for Plaine-Joux.

Once you’ve gone through Plateau d’Assy the road starts to venture further into the forest and tall trees line the road - very welcome on a hot day. The last section starts to give glimpses of how high you’ve come as the trees part of some of the bends to give sweeping views of the valley far below. Waterfalls and fast-flowing rivers cut through the rock face and run beneath the road, disappearing back into the forest on the other side.

The last push brings you round past a huge ugly pink building and up to the car park at Plaine Joux, where you can take the obligatory victory photograph by the final cycling signpost.

The route is easy. Up and over the Col des Montets, down to the Swiss border and then just keep on the main road towards Martigny until you reach Col de Forclaz. As a main road, expect to see a fair bit of traffic but, again, there is plenty of room for all and drivers here tend to be very respectful of cyclists.

Head up the valley out of Chamonix through Argentière towards Switzerland, (sign posted Martigny) – keep going up until there is no more up!! Turn around and come down the way you have come.

At just under 30km, it should take under two hours to cycle the route back up into the Chamonix Valley.

Gradients aren’t too challenging although the road through Vaudagne might get your heart pumping a bit faster. Traffic is light as most people will be on the main dual-carriageway.

The start point to the climb is across the motorway from Sallanches on the Route de Passy at the roundabout next to the Auberge de l’Orangerie. Leave the main road at the roundabout (take the Av. Rene Raffort Derrutet) – this is the D13 to Servoz and there is a helpful sign showing Chamonix and a picture of a cyclist.

Follow signs up the side of the valley all the way to Servoz, passing the entrance to the Gorges de la Diosaz and out of the village. Be careful not to follow the large green signs for Chamonix to the left but continue right, following the bike sign for Chamonix, also signed La Fontaine and Vaudagne. Continue under the railway bridge and take the road bridge over the dual-carriageway. From here the route is easy even if the climb isn’t – just keep climbing through Vaudagne and over into Les Houches. From Les Houches, the only thing to avoid is joining the dual carriageway as you head back up the valley into Chamonix.

It has an average gradient of 6.6%, maximum 9%, but a full 16km so allow a good five hours, especially if you are tempted to indulge in a beer and a snack in Martigny. The climb out of Switzerland can often be in full sun with heat radiating off the retaining walls so carry plenty of water.

The route couldn’t be more simple – out of Chamonix over the Col des Montets towards Switzerland. Keep on the main road over the Col de Forclaz and down to Martigny.