Cycling routes

Pas de Morgins - Legendary Mountain Passes

Monthey

8/13°

To reach this magnificent Alpine pass, you leave the Rhone Valley along the right bank of the Vallée d’Illiez to the mountain resort of Morgins. The summit is located on a large mountain plateau just a few pedal strokes away from the French border!

Difficulty

Intermediate

Length

19.8 km

Duration

2:00 h

Description

The Pas de Morgins, a mountain pass linking Switzerland and France, is one Alpine pass not to be missed. After leaving the town of Monthey, you will pass a road on the right bank of the Illiez Valley that will take you to the village of Troistorrents.The first leg of the climb brings you through the village of Troistorrents. Soon thereafter you tackle your next set of hairpins which seem to bring you face-to-face with the Dents du Midi. But before you can shift gears on the high mountain plateau at Morgins, you have about two kilometres of steep grades to tackle. After riding through the mountain resort of Morgins, you ride past the Swiss border post before you reach the summit of the pass next to a small pastoral lake.

Turn-by-turn directions

Already a major carriage way since 1870, the Pas de Morgins is one of the Alpine passes that link Switzerland and France. After leaving the town of Monthey, you will pass a road on the right bank of the Illiez Valley that will take you to the village of Troistorrents. The first step of the climb brings you to the village of Troistorents. The town is home to many top sports men and women (mainly skiers), and one local cycling champion, Steve Morabito, who trained on these very roads in the early years of his career. Several switchbacks out of the village bring you seemingly face-to-face with the Dents-du-Midi. The steepest sections of the climb from 10-12 km need to be conquered before you can shift gears onto the Morgins plateau. Take the time to stop at one of the many quiet café terraces before reaching the border and continuing on with the rest of your journey.

Start

Monthey train station (426m)

Destination

Pas de Morgins (1369m)

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Author's recommendation

To return to the starting point, we suggest that you take the forest road from Morgins which takes you to the main road of the Illiez Valley. Turn right and take the time to pass through the villages of Val d'Illiez and Champéry before descending via the "Route des Rives" which will bring you into Monthey via the right bank of the valley. Change of scenery guaranteed!

Technical information

Altitude

1378m

427m

Ascent

+990m

Descent

-48m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

To reach Monthey, take the regional train running on the Simplon line between Brig and St-Gingolph.

Approach

Exit A9 motorway at Bex (exit 19) and follow signs to Monthey centre ville. Coming from Lausanne, take the exit 18 (St-Triphon) and don't continue through the tunnel to Collombey Valley but take the road direction to Monthey centre-ville.