No French region packs in such a range of terrain for cycling: the highest paved mountain passes in Europe in Savoie, extinct volcanoes in the Cantal, a limestone canyon in the Ardèche, and one of the largest mountain bike areas in the world in Haute-Savoie. The hard part in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes isn’t finding something to ride — it’s choosing.
1. Col du Galibier, Savoie
The high point most regularly included whenever the Tour de France passes through. From Valloire, 18.1 km at a 6.9% average, finishing above 2,400 m where the thinning air makes itself felt. Combine it with the Télégraphe or the Lautaret for a day with over 30 km of cumulative climbing.
2. Col de l’Iseran, Savoie
One of the highest paved mountain passes in the Alps, at 2,764 m, on the Route des Grandes Alpes. From Val-d’Isère, 16.2 km for 940 m of elevation gain into a near-lunar landscape past 2,500 m. One of the last major passes to reopen each year, usually not before late June.
3. Mountain biking in Chamonix, Haute-Savoie
The Brévent and Flégère cable cars open onto high-altitude trails that trace the Mont Blanc massif in near-continuous view of the Mer de Glace. Technical terrain — not a place to start out.
4. Portes du Soleil, Haute-Savoie
Twelve resorts linked across France and Switzerland, several hundred kilometres of marked trails: one of the largest mountain bike areas in the world, with Morzine as the most convenient French gateway.
5. Gorges de l’Ardèche, from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc
The region’s best gravel terrain: a limestone plateau above the canyon, 65 km and 900 m of climbing, with the Pont d’Arc viewpoint along the way. Best avoided in summer, when heat and tourist traffic make the timing awkward.
6. Grand Colombier, Ain
Less famous than the Savoie giants but no less brutal: the Combe du Sires, between the 6th and 10th kilometre from Culoz, tips past 20% in places. One of the hardest climbs in France, full stop.
7. Tour of Lake Annecy, Haute-Savoie
The family counterpoint on this list: a flat greenway, fully separated from traffic, with landscaped beaches along the way to mix cycling and swimming. Manageable solo from around age 6-7.
8. Mountain biking in the Vercors, from Villard-de-Lans
The limestone plateau ringed by cliffs offers less committing terrain than Chamonix, on a network partly inherited from Nordic ski trails repurposed for summer. A good option to build skills before tackling the more technical sections of neighbouring massifs.
9. Puy Mary, Cantal
The only volcanic pass on this list: 12 km from Mandailles-Saint-Julien up to the Pas de Peyrol, at 1,589 m, at the centre of a star of glacial valleys radiating out from the extinct volcano. Less extreme than the Alpine climbs, but scenery found nowhere else in France.
10. Col de la Croix Morand, Puy-de-Dôme
In the Sancy massif, a short and approachable climb (9 km from Le Mont-Dore), a good introduction to mountain cycling without the demands of the Alpine giants. Lake Chambon forms the backdrop on the eastern side.
11. Drôme Provençale gravel, from Nyons
Europe’s northernmost commercial olive-growing area, on gravel terrain quieter than the neighbouring Ardèche. Around 60 km between centuries-old olive groves and the small gorges carved by the Eygues.
Planning the trip
Savoie (Galibier, Iseran) and the Ain (Grand Colombier) suit a climb-focused trip, possibly rounded out with Haute-Savoie mountain biking. The Cantal and Puy-de-Dôme form a second cluster, further southwest and separate from the rest of the region. The Ardèche and Drôme, finally, cover the gravel side without much distance between the two.
