Cyclists.com

Great St Bernard Pass from Martigny

Martigny, SwitzerlandRoad

Routed from the map This classic road was traced on OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

44 km
Distance
2,081 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap

Elevation profile

Total ascent
2,081 m
Distance
44 km
Elevation (m)05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0000 km10 km20 km30 km40 km44 kmHighest point2,472 m at 43.8 kmStart0 kmFinish44 km

Route overview

This is suited to experienced climbers comfortable with sustained climbing over 2000 m elevation gain in under 44 km.

A 44 km Swiss climb from Martigny to Great St Bernard Pass with 2081 m elevation gain.

Starting at Martigny (475 m), the route begins with gentle climbing over the first 6.3 km, including a 4.8 km climb at 2.9% average gradient to 628 m and a 3.3 km rise at 2.5% to 694 m. After Bovernier (7 km), the climb steepens with a 4.1 km section averaging 5.8%, gaining 235 m up to 939 m near Sembrancher (12.5 km). Several small climbs follow, including a 2.4 km climb at 5.2% to 1058 m near La Rosière (17.6 km). The main climb starts after Orsières (19.5 km), extending 23.5 km with an average gradient of 6.3% and maximum slopes of 11%, rising 1471 m toward the Great St Bernard Pass at 2472 m (km 43.3). The route follows mainly main roads with 21.4 km without cycle lanes, 15.2 km of these on roads posted 80 km/h or faster, notably on the N21 which is ridden for 21.6 km. Most of the route is paved (95%) with minor gravel or unpaved sections (3%). Services along the route include cafés, shops, and water points spaced up to 11.8 km apart after Bourg-Saint-Pierre (31.4 km). There are bail-out stations at Martigny-Expo (0.5 km), Bovernier (6.7 km), and La Douay (16.6 km). At the start, Martigny offers cafés, bakeries and a supermarket. The summit area near Great St Bernard Pass has a café (Mont Joux at 43.2 km).

Highlights

  • Great St Bernard Pass at 2472 m
  • Martigny start town
  • Main climb after Orsières, 23.5 km long
  • N21 main road for 21.6 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Les Guières 2.5 km
  2. Plan-Cerisier 2.6 km
  3. La Crette 2.7 km
  4. Le Perrey 2.8 km
  5. Martigny-Croix 2.8 km
  6. Le Brocard 3.8 km
  7. Pied du Château 3.8 km
  8. Le Borgeaud 5.2 km
  9. Les Valettes 6 km
  10. Bovernier 7 km
  11. Sembrancher 12.5 km
  12. Etiez 13.1 km
  13. Chamoille (Sembrancher) 15.4 km
  14. Chamoille d'Orsières 16.1 km
  15. La Douay 16.6 km
  16. La Rosière 17.6 km
  17. Maligue 18.7 km
  18. Orsières 19.5 km
  19. Fontaine Dessous (Liddes) 22.5 km
  20. Rive Haute (Liddes) 23.6 km
  21. Fontaine Dessus (Liddes) 23.9 km
  22. Chandonne (Liddes) 24.4 km
  23. Liddes 25.9 km
  24. Dranse (Liddes) 26 km
  25. Palasuit 27.1 km
  26. Bourg-Saint-Pierre 31.4 km
  27. L'Hospitalet 39.4 km
  28. Le Tronchet 41.2 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—1.5 km4.8 km138 m2.9 %6.6 %628 m
—6.9 km3.3 km81 m2.5 %3.2 %694 m
Sembrancher climb11.9 km4.1 km235 m5.8 %8.8 %939 m
—16.3 km2.4 km125 m5.2 %8.1 %1058 m
Great St Bernard19.8 km23.5 km1471 m6.3 %11 %2472 m

High point 2472 m at 43.3 km; low point 475 m.

Sembrancher climb · starts at 11.9 km

4.1 km at 5.8% · 235 m
750800850900ELEVATION (M)8.2%5.6%0 km1234.1 kmDISTANCE (KM)Sembrancher climb · 939 mSTEEPEST 8.2%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Great St Bernard · starts at 19.8 km

23.4 km at 6.3% · 1471 m
1200140016001800200022002400ELEVATION (M)5.2%6.1%5.0%6.1%6.0%5.7%6.1%4.9%6.2%7.4%6.3%3.4%2.9%2.5%6.4%8.8%9.4%8.9%9.1%9.3%0 km12345678910111213141516171819202123.4 kmDISTANCE (KM)Great St Bernard · 2,472 mSTEEPEST 9.4%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
49% main road · 31% minor road · 12% quiet street · 4% path
Main roads
21.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
15.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
N21;21 (22 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
83% climbing · 4% descending · 13% flat
Steep sections
22.2 km over 5% · 5.9 km over 8% · 0.8 km over 10%

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0.1 kmToilets · 80 m off route
  2. 0.1 kmL'Alchimiste · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  3. 0.3 kmZenhäusern · bakery · on the route
  4. 0.8 kmBike' N Joy cycle center Sàrl · bike shop · on the route
  5. 2.5 kmDrinking water fountain · drinking water · 30 m off route
  6. 5.9 kmFiesta bar · bar · on the route
  7. 11.3 kmCoop Pronto · petrol station · on the route
  8. 11.9 kmMigros · supermarket · 60 m off route
  9. 12 kmAux Croquignoles · bakery · on the route
  10. 12.3 kmDrinking water · 90 m off route
  11. 15 kmToilets · 60 m off route
  12. 16.4 kmLe Catogne, Gîte Restaurant · restaurant · 250 m off route
  13. 23.6 kmCafé · on the route
  14. 25.5 kmTamoil · petrol station · on the route
  15. 25.9 kmÉpicerie Dorsaz · supermarket · on the route
  16. 31 kmLes Charmettes · café · 90 m off route
  17. 31.4 kmDrinking water · 120 m off route
  18. 43.2 kmMont Joux · café · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 0.5 km — Martigny-Expo (halt), 450 m off route
  • 6.7 km — Bovernier (station), 40 m off route
  • 16.6 km — La Douay (station), 320 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 0.1 km — Station météorologique historique (monument)
  • 10.5 km — Les Trappistes (ruins)
  • 31.6 km — Moulin de Valsorey (attraction)
  • 43.3 km — Great St Bernard Pass (attraction, 2469 m)

At the start

  • Le Tambourin · café · 110 m
  • Taverne de la Tour · café · 100 m
  • Boulangerie Michellod · bakery · 140 m
  • Zenhäusern · bakery · 240 m
  • Migros · supermarket · 150 m

At the finish

  • Mont Joux · café · 50 m

Stay after this ride

  • Hotel Italia · hotel · 450 m from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
3 h 08 min

Know before you go

  • 21.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 15.2 km on roads posted 80 km/h or more
  • Longest no café/shop/water 11.8 km from 31.4 km

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.