A narrow scenic road to Mont Tendre

A narrow scenic road to Mont Tendre

Switzerland, europe

Length

8.04 km

Elevation

1,679 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Mont Tendre: A Hidden Gem in the Jura

Tucked away in Switzerland's Jura mountains in the Vaud canton, Mont Tendre is one of those thrilling mountain passes that'll make your heart race. We're talking 1,679 meters (5,508 feet) of Alpine goodness, and honestly? It's absolutely worth the drive.

Starting from Montrichier, you're looking at just over 8 kilometers of pure climbing—782 meters of elevation gain to be precise. That works out to an average gradient of 9.7%, though the road kicks up to a gnarly 14% at its steepest points. The asphalt ends at the Chalet du Mont Tendre (1,615m), where a welcoming restaurant awaits weary climbers.

Here's the thing: this is a single-lane road winding through dense forest, which means it's wonderfully quiet and traffic-free. But that peaceful vibe comes with a caveat—those blind hairpin turns demand serious respect. Take them slowly, stay alert, and you'll be fine.

If you love that raw, tree-lined climb experience with minimal crowds, Mont Tendre absolutely delivers. The scenery is quintessentially Jura—all forested mountainsides and that satisfying sense of real adventure that disappears on busier routes.

Where is it?

A narrow scenic road to Mont Tendre is located in Switzerland (europe). Coordinates: 46.6283, 8.1025

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Road Details

Country
Switzerland
Continent
europe
Length
8.04 km
Max Elevation
1,679 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
46.6283, 8.1025

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