Between Manigod and La Clusaz, Col de la Croix Fry offers an uneven ascent at the foot of the Aravis massif, often ridden alongside its neighboring pass.
An uneven climb from Manigod
From Manigod, it’s about 11 km for 800 m of elevation gain, averaging 7%, with a noticeably tougher second third where the gradient regularly tops 10%. The summit sits at 1,477 m.
A recurring Tour de France passage
Col de la Croix Fry is a regular in the Tour de France’s Alpine stages, often paired with Col des Aravis or Col de la Colombière in short but selective stages typical of the Aravis massif.
How to approach the ride
The more rolling start from Manigod invites you not to hold back too early, a mistake that costs dearly in the noticeably steeper second third, where a cautious pace pays off all the way to the final flatter section.
When to climb it
May to October, ideally June to September when the surrounding alpine pastures are greenest and traffic lightest outside of Tour de France stages.
Good to know
The pass links naturally to La Clusaz and Col des Aravis, or to a descent toward Thônes to complete a full loop within the massif.
