29.1
PDI
14.5 mi
DISTANCE
4,891 ft
GAINED
6.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland.
INTRO
Chandolin is a 23.4 km (14.5 mi) climb in Switzerland's Valais Alps, gaining 1,491 m (4,891 ft) at an average grade of 6.1% as it rises from Chippis, on the floor of the Rhone Valley, up into the Val d'Anniviers to the village of Chandolin. At 1,936 m (6,352 ft), Chandolin is one of the highest year-round inhabited villages in Europe, and the road continues a bit above the village itself to its true high point. It's currently ranked the #370 toughest bike climb in the world.
The route runs through Vissoie, the valley's main town, then on through St-Luc - home to the François-Xavier Bagnoud astronomical observatory and the "Sentier des Planètes" planet-scale walking trail - before the final push up to Chandolin. The grade is uneven rather than steady: long, gentler stretches through the lower valley give way to real pitches in the closing kilometers, including a quarter-mile that averages over 24%. The Weisshorn and Bella Tola dominate the skyline to the east for much of the climb, two of the signature peaks of the Val d'Anniviers.
In 1987, Chandolin hosted the finish of the Tour de Romandie, won overall by Ireland's Stephen Roche - the same year he completed cycling's rare Triple Crown by also winning the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championship road race.
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. Chandolin gains 1,491 m (4,891 ft) over 23.4 km (14.5 mi) at an average grade of 6.1%, starting at 564 m (1,851 ft) in Chippis and topping out near 1,975 m (6,480 ft) above the village of Chandolin.
The grade is far from steady. Long, gentle stretches through the lower Rhone Valley and the mid-valley towns give way to a noticeably harder finish: the steepest quarter-mile averages 24.2%, the steepest half-mile 14.9%, and the steepest full mile 11.4%, almost all of it concentrated in the closing kilometers above St-Luc. Zoomed out over a longer stretch, the steepest 2.5 and 5-mile windows settle back to a still-solid 8.0% and 7.8%. The Fiets difficulty index rates this climb at 9.49, which reflects that hard closing section more than the moderate overall average.
Roadway: The road is paved the entire way from Chippis to Chandolin. As a year-round access route to an inhabited village and ski resort, it's maintained through the winter unlike many high Alpine passes - this is not a seasonal-closure climb. Vissoie and the surrounding villages do see periodic local road construction, so check the Anniviers commune's road-closure notices at anniviers.org before a visit, especially outside peak summer.
Traffic: Traffic is light to moderate on the lower Rhone Valley approach out of Chippis and picks up modestly through Vissoie, the valley's commercial hub. Above Vissoie, traffic thins out again through St-Luc and on the final climb to Chandolin, though summer weekends bring day-trippers and hikers headed for the observatory and planet trail.
Parking: Chippis has straightforward on-street parking near the village center for riders starting at the bottom. St-Luc, roughly two-thirds of the way up, has parking near its funicular station (Funiculaire St-Luc-Tignousa) for anyone wanting to split the climb or start higher. Chandolin itself has village parking near the tourist office and ski lifts at the top.
Chippis and Vissoie both have shops and cafes for a pre-ride coffee or to restock water before the climb gets serious. Above Vissoie, options thin out until St-Luc, which has a small grocery store, bakery, and a handful of cafes and restaurants catering to hikers and skiers depending on the season - a good last realistic stop before the final push. Chandolin itself has a couple of small shops and restaurants at the top for a post-climb meal, though hours can run seasonal outside peak summer and winter.
Given how much of the elevation gain is packed into the final kilometers, gearing low enough for sustained double-digit pitches is worth prioritizing over aero considerations on this one.
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.
Chandolin's status as one of Europe's highest year-round villages is reason enough to make the detour up from Chippis rather than only visiting Grimentz, the well-known chalet village across the valley on the Glacier de Moiry side. St-Luc, just below Chandolin, is worth a stop of its own: it's home to the François-Xavier Bagnoud astronomical observatory and the "Sentier des Planètes," a scale-model walking trail of the solar system between St-Luc and the historic Hotel Weisshorn - a good option if you're overnighting in the valley rather than just riding through.
The road to Chandolin stays open year-round, but the village itself is at its liveliest in summer (roughly June through September) and again in ski season; shoulder-season weekdays can be quiet, with some shops and restaurants on reduced hours.
Since Chandolin's finish sits close to 2,000 meters, conditions at the top can differ sharply from the Rhone Valley floor even in summer - our Weather tool can show you what to expect at the summit before you leave Chippis.
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