Cycling routes
Col de Champex (Orsières) – Valais Vélo Tour
Orsières
2/12°
Climb the Col de Champex from the village of Orsières. The pass, at 1497 meters altitude, and the beautiful lake of Champex are definitely worth a visit.
Difficulty
DifficultLength
10.33 kmDuration
1:05 h
Description
From Orsières train station, the first few meters descend gently to the hamlet of Somlaproz. Then turn right towards Champex-Lac. The village of Orsières recedes as the road climbs in seven hairpin bends, first through meadows and then through a shadier section at the forest edge. Enjoy the view of the Val Ferret and the valley leading to the Great St. Bernard. After 7.4 kilometers of steady ascent, you reach the charming village of Champex-Lac. A flat section through the village and along the beautiful lake offers a short rest. Then the climb resumes up to the Col de Champex. Overall, you conquer 600 meters in elevation from the start to the summit at 1497 meters.
Turn-by-turn directions
From Orsières train station, turn left onto the Route de Ferret and ride to the hamlet of Somlaproz. Then take the right turn towards Champex-Lac and follow the cantonal road for 7.3 kilometers until you reach the village. Now ride about 600 meters along the lake before switching to the Route du Lac, which leads you to the Col de Champex.
Start
Orsières, train station (887 m) (901m)
Destination
Col de Champex (1497 m) (1496m)
Author's recommendation
Take a break at the Hotel Au Club Alpin. Michel Theytaz, the former owner of the professional cycling team IAM Cycling, built this house.
Technical information
Altitude
1497m
887m
Ascent
+596m
Descent
-1m
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Getting there
Information
Public transport
Take the Brig-Simplon line to Martigny, then the St-Bernard Express to Orsières (change trains in Sembrancher).
Approach
Motorway A9 from Lausanne or Sierre to the Martigny/Grand St-Bernard exit, then via the Route du Grand-St-Bernard towards Sembrancher and Orsières (Route 21).
Parking
Parking spaces at Place Centrale in Orsières.
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion
