Sonchaux Cycling Climb | A Steep Climb Above Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Switzerland Sonchaux

26.2

PDI

6.1 mi

DISTANCE

3,178 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

10 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Montreux, CH

INTRO

Sonchaux climbs 9.7 km (6.0 mi) from Villeneuve, at the southern tip of Lake Geneva, gaining 968 m (3,178 ft) at a punishing 10.0% average grade to a small hamlet at 1,406 m (4,614 ft) in the hills above the Vaud Riviera.

The road switches back through forest almost the entire way - roughly 20 hairpins in under 10 km - with the grade holding double digits for long stretches and pitching into the mid-teens in the final kilometer as it reaches the hamlet of Sonchaux itself. There's virtually no flat ground anywhere on the climb to recover on.

The trees open intermittently to views back over Lake Geneva and, on clear days, across to the French shore near Evian. From the finish, a hiking trail continues on toward Rochers de Naye, the well-known viewpoint above Montreux - Sonchaux is the climb that gets a cyclist closest to that summit under their own power before the terrain turns to trail.

Check current conditions before you go with our Weather tool - this is a high, shaded climb that holds cold and damp longer into spring than the lakeshore below.

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.

Sonchaux averages 10.0% over 9.7 km (6.0 mi), gaining 968 m (3,178 ft) from Villeneuve to 1,406 m (4,614 ft).

The grade is remarkably consistent for a climb this steep - the steepest sustained kilometer averages 12.7%, and the steepest 500 meters comes in at 12.8%, both close to the overall average, which means there's little relief anywhere on the road. The final kilometer into the hamlet of Sonchaux is where riders report the hardest pitches, with short ramps into the mid-teens.

Roadway: The pavement is in good condition for essentially the entire climb - rider-submitted road-condition reports rate it favorably, and there's no gravel or dirt to contend with, just a narrow, twisting surface with tight sightlines on the switchbacks.

Traffic: Light. The road serves the hamlet of Sonchaux and little else, so through-traffic is minimal outside of the occasional local vehicle or logging truck.

Parking: The climb starts right in Villeneuve - street parking is readily available near the lakeshore and train station, the same starting point used by the nearby Col de Chaude climb.

Villeneuve has shops, bakeries, and cafes for a pre-ride stock-up. There's nothing at the top beyond the hamlet of Sonchaux itself, so carry what you need for the full round trip - the sustained double-digit grade burns through water faster than the modest distance suggests.

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.

Villeneuve makes an easy, walkable base at the quiet end of Lake Geneva, with Montreux just a few minutes away by bike or train - the Château de Chillon on the lakeshore is worth a stop if you haven't already seen it from a ride up the neighboring Col de Chaude.

Sonchaux's real draw beyond the ride itself is what's just past the finish: the Via Alpina trail continues from the hamlet up to Rochers de Naye, a well-known viewpoint above Montreux, for hikers willing to leave the bike behind for the last steep stretch. It's also reachable by cog railway from Montreux if you'd rather ride up and take the train down (or vice versa).