Famous for bringing the Tour de France’s best riders to their knees, the Col de Joux Plane links Morzine to Samoëns via a narrow, winding road through the alpine pastures of the Chablais.
The climb
From Morzine, at around 960 m elevation, the road climbs for 10.7 km to the pass at 1,691 m, gaining 747 m at an average of 7%. The fairly steady opening kilometers give way to steeper sections exceeding 11% in the final switchbacks, under the gaze of the Chablais peaks.
How to approach the ride
It pays to keep something in reserve for the second half of the climb, which is noticeably tougher, especially after a ride up from the valley. The road, narrow in places, is well maintained and popular with cyclotourists paying homage to this legendary pass.
When to go
May to October is the safest window to avoid leftover snow early in the season on this modest-altitude but exposed pass. Summer and early autumn generally offer the best conditions.
Good to know
Morzine, a lively resort town in both summer and winter, has all the services you’d need before setting off. At the top, a few benches and a clear view over the Alps make for a good pause before heading down toward Samoëns or turning back toward Morzine.
