20.9
PDI
6.2 mi
DISTANCE
2,829 ft
GAINED
8.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Ovronnaz (Ardon) covers 9.9 km (6.2 mi) and gains 862 m (2,829 ft) in total, rising from 489 m (1,603 ft) in Ardon to about 1345 m (4,413 ft) in Ovronnaz, at an average grade of 8.7%.
The hard sections are well above that average: the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) average 11.3%, the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 12.8%, the steepest kilometer (0.6 mi) 13.4% and the steepest 500 m (0.3 mi) 14.1%. The steepest 91 m (100 yd) reaches 14.5%. Because the steepest half of the climb averages 11.3%, the remaining distance averages only about 6%, so the easier stretches are the place to recover.
Pace the opening kilometers conservatively - there is no flat to rest on, and the hardest effort of the day comes while you are already well into the climb.
Roadway: The road is paved all the way up to the resort. Ovronnaz is a year-round destination rather than a seasonal pass, so the road is kept open and maintained, but check conditions after snowfall in winter and early spring. The ramps are steep and irregular, so keep your speed under control on the descent.
Traffic: Traffic is local and visitor traffic to the resort, the baths and the lifts. Riders on the neighboring Leytron approach report that the main road up to Ovronnaz is busiest at commuting hours and on fine weekends, so an early start or a late-afternoon ride is quieter - bring a light if you plan to descend as it gets dark.
Parking: The climb starts on the Route du Simplon in Ardon, a village on the valley floor, and there is no dedicated cyclist lot, so use ordinary street parking in the village. If you would rather arrive by train and bus or want a larger lot, Riddes (motorway exit 24) has a parking lot and a station on the Rhone Valley line, and the post bus runs from there up to Ovronnaz.
Provisions: Stock up in Ardon before you start. Ovronnaz has cafes and restaurants at the top and there are refreshment stops along the way, but plan to carry two bottles in summer, because the lower slopes can be hot in summer.
Gear: With 12% to 14% pitches and an 8.7% average over 9.9 km (6.2 mi), a compact crankset with a 32-tooth or larger cog is a comfortable choice. Pack a light jacket for the descent - the resort sits at about 1345 m (4,413 ft) and the temperature drop on the way down is real.
Weather: Check conditions before you set out: the Muverans catch weather quickly, and the valley floor can be hot and still while the resort is cool and breezy.
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.
Ovronnaz sits at the foot of the Muverans range - the Grand Muveran, Petit Muveran and Haut de Cry rise directly above the resort. Its thermal baths have three pools, two of them outdoors, plus a wellness area, and are open year-round, so a post-ride soak is a genuinely good use of the afternoon. The tourist office is on the Route des Muverans and is open Monday to Saturday most of the year, daily in high season.
Walkers can head for the Cabane Rambert or tackle part of the Tour des Muverans; there are more than 150 km (93.2 mi) of marked trails around the resort. On the way back down, the wine village of Chamoson is a worthwhile stop - Valais Tourism describes the Chamoson vineyard as the largest in Switzerland by area.
Our Croix de Coeur - Riddes page covers a Rhone Valley classic starting just up the valley from Ardon, and the Ovronnaz (Leytron) page covers the other approach to this resort. To see these and other nearby climbs, or to build a custom route linking them, use our Routes in the Area tool.
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