recommended route
Pas de Morgins - Legendary Mountain Passes
Cycling
· Valais
-
/ Lac de MorginsPhoto: Eric Bergoend, Valais -
/ Lac de MorginsPhoto: Guy Rouiller, Valais
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!
moderate
Distance 19.8 km
2:00 h
990 m
48 m
1,378 m
427 m
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.
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!
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
Pas de Morgins, 1,378 m
Lowest point
Monthey, 427 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Safety information
Strictly respect the Swiss traffic rules. Please note that you are running the tour at your own risk and all liability is refused. Please be considerate to plants and animals. For your own safety, wear an helmet every time you ride a bike. Emergency numbers: 144 Ambulance / 117 Police / 1414 Helicopter Rescue (Rega).Tips and hints
More information about the destinations:
Start
Monthey train station (426 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'562'156E 1'122'126N
DD
46.249496, 6.947927
DMS
46°14'58.2"N 6°56'52.5"E
UTM
32T 341820 5123815
w3w
///hillsides.factories.fells
Destination
Pas de Morgins
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.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
To reach Monthey, take the regional train running on the Simplon line between Brig and St-Gingolph.Getting there
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.Parking
Different parking possibilities in Monthey, please follow the local car park routeing:- Place Cardinale (Route du Simplon)
- Parking at AOMC train station (Avenue de France 6)
- Parking Municipal (Place de l'Hôtel de Ville)
Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'562'156E 1'122'126N
DD
46.249496, 6.947927
DMS
46°14'58.2"N 6°56'52.5"E
UTM
32T 341820 5123815
w3w
///hillsides.factories.fells
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendation by the author
Brochures:
Author’s map recommendations
SwissTopo Maps 1:25'000: 1284 Monthey / 1304 Val d'Illiez
Equipment
We recommend: bike in excellent working order, helmet, gloves and bell, clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof), food and drink.Basic Equipment for Bike Riding
- Cycling helmet
- Cycling gloves
- Sturdy, comfortable and preferably waterproof footwear
- Layered, moisture wicking clothing
- Rucksack (with rain cover)
- Protection against sun, rain and wind (hat, sunscreen, water- and windproof jacket)
- Sunglasses
- Ample supply of drinking water and snacks
- Cell phone
- Cash
- Navigation equipment / map and compass
Technical Equipment for Bike Riding
- Air pump or CO2 pump including cartridges
- Puncture repair kit
- Replacement inner tube
- Tire levers
- Chain tool
- Hex keys
- Phone / device holder as required
- Bike lock as required
- Where applicable, the bike must meet requirements for road use by having a bell, front and rear lamps and spoke reflectors
- The 'basic' and 'technical' equipment lists are generated based on the selected activity. They are not exhaustive and only serve as suggestions for what you should consider packing.
- For your safety, you should carefully read all instructions on how to properly use and maintain your equipment.
- Please ensure that the equipment you bring complies with local laws and does not include restricted items.
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
19.8 km
Duration
2:00 h
Ascent
990 m
Descent
48 m
Highest point
1,378 m
Lowest point
427 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
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