Col du Grand St. Bernard Bike Climb | Cycling the Swiss Alps

Switzerland Col du Grand St. Bernard

Col du Grand St. Bernard Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

29.1

PDI

15.6 mi

DISTANCE

4,893 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

6 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Switzerland

INTRO

Col du Grand St. Bernard (Great St. Bernard Pass) is the third-highest road pass in Switzerland, connecting Martigny in the canton of Valais with Aosta, Italy. This Swiss-side route climbs 25.1 km (15.6 mi) from Orsières, gaining 1,492 m (4,893 ft) at a 6.0% average grade to the pass at 2,339 m (7,672 ft). The pass has been crossed for centuries - Julius Caesar's commander Servius Galba attempted to seize it in 57 BC, and Napoleon Bonaparte marched 40,000 men over it in May 1800. A hospice built in 1049 by Saint Bernard of Menthon gave the pass, and later the famous rescue dog breed, its name. The Tour de France has crossed the pass five times. A road tunnel opened in 1964 gives year-round passage beneath the pass, while the high mountain road itself is normally closed by snow from October into May or June and used today mainly for recreation. Two tunnels along the Swiss approach - one six km long - carry cyclists through lit galleries rather than out in the open, but a turnoff before the final, truck-prohibited tunnel leads onto the old road for a magnificent, traffic-free final six km to the summit. The pass had a later-than-usual opening in 2026 after avalanche damage on the Italian side pushed the full crossing's reopening to June 22, though the Swiss side opened to traffic on May 29 - with three preceding days reserved exclusively for cyclists, a practice Valais repeats at several of its high passes each spring. Check current status before planning a shoulder-season ride.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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6% average grade. 68% of the climb is at 5-10%. The steepest 500 meters of the climb is 9.7%, and steepest kilometer is 9.4%.

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.

Roadway: Two lanes in good condition with minimal to no shoulder. Before the final tunnel (closed to cyclists), a turn leads onto the old road for the last six km to the top - traffic-free and, by far, the best part of the ride. Two lengthy tunnels lower on the climb (one six km long) are open to cyclists via lit galleries. The high pass itself is seasonal - it typically opens between late May and late June and closes again with the first snow, and 2026 saw a later opening than usual after avalanche damage on the Italian side; confirm current status before a shoulder-season trip.

Traffic: Moderate, including trucks, until the turnoff to the old road at kilometer 18.7 - after that, no trucks are permitted and traffic drops away for a quiet finish.

Parking: A small parking area sits just off the highway, about 450 meters before the climb start (Map; Street View), or use the parking lot in Orsieres adjacent to the climb start (Map).

Provisions: There are a couple of cafes in Orsières at the base of the climb, but nothing reliable once you're on the mountain until the hospice near the summit.

Lights: Bring a tail light for the tunnels lower on the climb.

Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.

Orsières and the wider Val d'Entremont sit in one of the greatest cycling regions in the world - see our Valais, Switzerland climb area page for more on climbing here, and use the Routes in the Area tool to find other nearby bike climbs. Bourg-Saint-Pierre, the last village before the road climbs in earnest, is worth a stop for its historic character and views back down the valley. On the Italian side, the hospice at the summit and the small village of Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses make for a worthwhile destination if you're continuing over the top rather than turning around at the pass.