© David Astle
Sallanches to Chamonix, via the old road
Intermediate cycle from Sallaches at the entrance to the Chamonix Valley
If you have a big supermarket shop to do in Sallanches then this is a good way to slip in a nice training ride but it does need a co-operative partner to drive the car back...unless you cycle down there to start with!
At just under 30km, it should take under 2 hours to cycle the route back up into the Chamonix Valley.
Gradients aren’t too challenging although the road through Vaudagne might get your heart pumping a bit faster. Traffic is light as most people will be on the main dual-carriageway.
The start point to the climb is across the motorway from Sallanches on the Route de Passy at the roundabout next to the Auberge de l’Orangerie. Leave the main road at the roundabout (take the Av. Rene Raffort Derrutet) – this is the D13 to Servoz and there is a helpful sign showing Chamonix and a picture of a cyclist.
Follow signs up the side of the valley all the way to Servoz, passing the entrance to the Gorges de la Diosaz and out of town past the Bar de la Faune. Be careful not to follow the large green signs for Chamonix to the left but continue right, following the bike sign for Chamonix, also signed La Fontaine and Vaudagne. Continue under the railway bridge and take the road bridge over the dual-carriageway. From here the route is easy even if the climb isn’t – just keep climbing through Vaudagne and over into Les Houches. From Les Houches, the only thing to avoid is joining the dual carriageway as you head back up the valley into Chamonix.
Distance : 28.9km
Time : 2hrs
Vertical Gain : 480m
