Cycling routes

Pas de Morgins - Mythical Alpine Passes

Monthey

2/12°

Closed

On a wonderfully beautiful alpine pass road, you leave the Rhone valley along the right side of the Vallée d'Illiez and reach the Morgins ski area, which lies on a high plateau near the border with France!

Difficulty

Intermediate

Length

19.8 km

Duration

2:00 h

Description

The Pas de Morgins connects Switzerland with France and is a real highlight among Alpine passes. After leaving the town of Monthey, you pass a road on the right bank of the Illiez valley leading you to the village of Troistorrents. You quickly gain altitude over some hairpin bends; the Dents-du-Midi mountain range awaits you. Before you can roll your bike on the plateau of Morgins, there is still a steep climb over two kilometers to overcome. After passing the village of Morgins and its customs post, the route leads along an idyllic small lake to the pass.

Turn-by-turn directions

The Pas de Morgins has been passable since 1870 and is one of the quintessential Alpine passes. It connects Switzerland with France. After leaving the town of Monthey, you pass a road on the right bank of the Illiez valley leading you to the village of Troistorrents. Numerous elite athletes (especially skiers) live in the municipality of Troistorrents, and the local cycling champion Steve Morabito also earned his stripes on the roads of the region here. Through some hairpin bends, you quickly gain altitude and the Dents-du-Midi mountain range awaits you. The steepest sections are between kilometers 10 and 12, before you can then roll your bike on the plateau of Morgins. Take some time and pause on a cozy terrace before you reach the border and continue your route.

Start

Monthey train station (426m)

Destination

Pas de Morgins (1369m)

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Author's recommendation

To return to the starting point, we recommend the forest road from Morgins, which leads you back via a different path to the cantonal road of the Vallée d'Illiez. Turn right and take time to visit the villages of Val d'Illiez and Champéry before riding back to Monthey via the "Route des Rives" on the right side of the valley.

Technical information

Altitude

1378m

427m

Ascent

+990m

Descent

-48m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

You can reach Monthey with the regular regional train connections on the Simplon line Brig - St. Gingolph.

Approach

Motorway A9 to exit 19 (Bex), then take the second exit toward Monthey at the roundabout. Coming from Lausanne, take exit 18 (St-Triphon) and do not drive through the tunnel into the Collombey valley, but continue toward Monthey town centre.