
A scenic paved road to Colle di Joux
Italy, europe
22.5 km
1,640 m
hard
Year-round
# Colle di Joux: A Classic Alpine Climb
Nestled in the stunning Aosta Valley of northwestern Italy, Colle di Joux sits at a breezy 1,640 meters (5,380 feet) and offers one of those rides that'll have you grinning the whole way up. The drive takes you through Val d'Ayas, following a fully paved route known locally as Rue Colle di Joux—and yes, it earns its reputation with some seriously tight, steep sections that'll keep you on your toes.
The route stretches 22.5 kilometers from the charming town of Saint-Vincent over to Brusson, running in a west-east direction. Starting from Saint-Vincent, you're looking at a 15.6-kilometer climb that gains a respectable 1,065 meters of elevation. The average gradient sits around 6.8%, which means you'll have plenty of time to take in the spectacular Alpine scenery as you wind your way up.
This pass has serious cycling credentials too—it's been a featured climb in the legendary Giro d'Italia, so you'll be following in the tire tracks of professional cyclists. Whether you're tackling it by bike or car, Colle di Joux delivers that quintessential Italian Alpine experience with dramatic mountain views and a rewarding summit to show for your effort.
Where is it?
A scenic paved road to Colle di Joux is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 43.6360, 12.4704
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 22.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,640 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 43.6360, 12.4704
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