Col du Petit Saint Bernard

Also known as Little St Bernard Pass this is cross-border adventure to Italy

featured in Cycling Routes Updated 7 April 2025

With this famous route you will literally cycle into Italy - coffee stop optional

The ascent is never brutal on this route, with an average gradient of around 5%.

A beautiful alpine climb, begin by descending from Tignes (2,100m) to Bourg Saint Maurice (840m), which is a fast 30km descent.

Distance: 120km return
Elevation gain: 2,000m to 2,200m
Average gradient: 4.9% (from Bourg St Maurice)
Summit elevation: 2,188m
Difficulty: hard

Key features:

starting from Bourg-St-Maurice, the climb follows the D1090, beginning gently and winding through alpine pastures and forests
the route goes through numerous small hamlets and ski resorts, including La Rosière, a great stop off spot
after La Rosière the route has long, sweeping switchbacks and views of Mont Blanc and the Tarentaise Valley
at the summit you'll find a large stone column, a food truck or café in summer months

Worth knowing

the road is usually open from late May to October, depending on snow conditions
traffic is moderate in summer, with motorbikes and campervans, but shouldn't be overwhelming
weather can change rapidly, so proper gear is essential
there are limited water and food stops, and nothing at the summit, so plan accordingly
the descent can be cold and fast, so be prepared with warm clothing
bring ID/passport for the border (rarely checked, but worth being prepared)

Start Planning

Start Exploring