Driving the scenic road to Col de la Croix de Fer in the Alps
France, europe
25 km
2,071 m
moderate
Year-round
# Col de la Croix de Fer: A French Alpine Adventure
Nestled high in the French Alps at 2,071 meters (6,794 feet), the Col de la Croix de Fer is one of those legendary mountain passes that'll make your road trip playlist legendary too. Located in the Savoie department, this beauty sits in the southeastern part of the country and is part of the iconic Route des Grandes Alpes—basically the dream road trip for alpine enthusiasts.
The name translates to "Pass of the Iron Cross," and honestly, it lives up to the drama. There's even a tiny bar and parking area at the summit where you can catch your breath and snap some seriously Instagram-worthy photos.
Here's what you're getting into: The fully paved D926 stretches 34.2 kilometers (21.25 miles) from the stunning turquoise waters of Lac de Grand'Maison in the west to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the east. The route is wonderfully undulating with short downhill sections mixed in, and the scenery? Picture towering mountains on both sides framing countless waterfalls fed by melting snow. It's absolutely stunning.
Now, don't go in unprepared. This road means business with plenty of tight curves and narrow sections. The gradient maxes out at a punishing 15.5%, so bring your A-game behind the wheel. Col du Glandon sits just 2.5 km away to the west if you want to stack more Alpine passes onto your adventure.
Fun fact: Pro cyclists have been conquering this pass since 1947, when it debuted in the Tour de France. It's remained a favorite tough stage ever since.
Where is it?
Driving the scenic road to Col de la Croix de Fer in the Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 47.8474, 1.4420
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 25 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,071 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 47.8474, 1.4420
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