Maurienne tour over the Col de la Croix de Fer

Route details

Round trip through the Maurienne valley with a crossing of the legendary Col de la Croix de Fer (2067 m). A challenging Pass road with views of the striking Aiguilles d'Arves.

This 193 km Round trip starts in Saint-Jeoire-Prieuré, a small municipality south-east of Chambéry on the edge of the Savoy wine-growing region. From here, the Route first leads through the Cluse de Chambéry towards the Maurienne Valley.

The highlight of the Tourer is the Col de la Croix de Fer at an altitude of 2067 meters. The Mountain pass connects Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne with the Romanche valley and is well-known from the Tour de France. The north-east ramp from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne stretches for around 29.5 km with an average gradient of 5.5 percent, although individual sections are significantly steeper. The route is technically demanding: along the way you pass three Tunnels (96, 178 and 503 meters long), varying gradients with intermittent downhill sections and numerous Switchbacks.

The road surface is mainly asphalted and in acceptable condition, but there are patches and signs of wear and tear in places. In the summer months, you can expect increased traffic from cyclists who appreciate this classic climb.

The Route offers plenty of panoramic views: shortly before the Pass summit, the view opens up to the Aiguilles d'Arves, a three-part summit with the highest peak at 3,514 meters. This striking rock formation is one of the landmarks of the Maurienne. Along the ascent, you cross the Arvan valley, pass alpine meadows and reach a barren high valley at around 1700 meters.

The return journey via Saint-Étienne-de-Cuines leads back through the valley. Overall, the Tourer can be classified as moderately difficult to challenging. The combination of Elevation gains, changing gradients and tight bends requires concentrated riding. The Tourer is only suitable for beginners to a limited extent. Experienced Alpine riders will find this a rewarding day tour with one of the classic high Alpine passes in the French Alps.

The best duration is between June and October, when the Mountain pass is free of snow. We recommend checking the current road conditions before setting off. In Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, it is worth making a short stop at the Opinel Museum, which documents the history of the famous Savoy pocket knife.