| Beautiful scenery |
| 19 hairpin turns |
| #89 toughest climb of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
| #13 most elevation gain of Haute Savoie |
| #44 longest climb of Haute Savoie |
| #55 average steepest climb of Haute Savoie |
Col de Joux Plane is a climb in the region Haute Savoie. It is 11.5km long and bridges 997 vertical meters with an average gradient of 8.7%, resulting in a difficulty score of 945. The top of the ascent is located at 1697 meters above sea level. Climbfinder users shared 24 reviews of this climb and uploaded 20 photos.
Road name: D354
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A magnificent pass. The view of the Mont-Blanc massif from the summit rewards all the effort put into getting there. The climb offers little respite with many passages around the 9％ average and one wall above 12％. There can be a lot of insects during the summer circling around you and the climb is very exposed to the sun.
It's best to venture up early in the morning or late in the day. There is a friendly bistro at the summit that can be used for refreshments. Beware, there may be restrictions on filling water bottles if water reserves are low.
Un col magnifique. La vue au sommet sur le massif du Mont-Blanc récompense tous les efforts consentis pour y parvenir. La montée offre peu de répit avec beaucoup de passages avoisinant les 9％ de moyenne et un mur au-delà des 12％. Il peut y avoir beaucoup d'insectes durant l'été qui tournent autour de vous et la montée est très exposée au soleil.
Il est préférable de s'y aventurer de bon matin ou en fin de journée. Un bistro assez sympathique au sommet peut servir de ravitaillement. Attention, il peut y avoir des limitations pour remplir ses gourdes en cas de réserves d'eau faibles.
Epic ride!
Climb from Samoens and go to Morzine, Les Gets, Taninges. Soooo good!!
Climbed at the beginning of May.
What a climb! A really tough pass with almost no passage at 5-6％ to recover a little.
Beautiful scenery on the way up
Very few cars encountered
Montée faite début mai.
Quel ascension ! un col vraiment dur avec presque aucun passage à 5-6％ pour récupérer un peu
De beau paysage lors de la montée
Très peu de voiture rencontré
A beautiful day makes for a great climb, and we had perfect early summer weather. Great views of Mont Blanc on the way up. The hardest section was the first k or 2 out of Samöens. We went 2 km or so, on after the Col and came back, a good decision as the views are much better that way. I would recommend a stop for refreshments and amazing valley and mountain views at La Ferme des Cimes on the way down to Samöens.
spectacular views at the top but you have to ride past the lake and down towards morzine. the last 1km from morzine has better views of mont blanc than from samoëns. 1st km of climb from samoëns was the hardest ! i didnt think the last 2kms were too bad, the official km marker said 5％ then 8％. fantastic tarmac for a wonderful descent!
My first col ever, at the age of 13. Overconfident and way too fast, because I had never climbed more than about two kilometres in a row before, and then you get the bill here: there is really nowhere to catch your breath, because it remains steep. Motivation must come from the beautiful views of Mont-Blanc, and from the fact that you can already see the summit a few kilometres away.
Mijn eerste col ooit, op 13-jarige leeftijd. Overmoedig en veel te snel vertrokken, omdat ik nog nooit meer dan een tweetal kilometer aan een stuk geklommen had, en dan krijg je hier wel de rekening gepresenteerd: je kan eigenlijk nergens op adem komen, want het blijft steil. Motivatie moet je halen uit het prachtige uitzicht op de Mont-Blanc, en uit het feit dat je al op enkele kilometers afstand de top kan zien liggen.
Evil, exposed, beautiful, epic - it's the full monty! This climb is one to do early in the day, lest you be browbeaten by the sun - there is very little shade to be found on any part of this ascent. The first kilometer is a brutal introduction, after which things settle (if that term is appropriate) into sub-10 percent gradients for a long spell. The third quarter of the climb is the hardest part, constantly bucking and yawing between 9 and 13 percent until it emerges toward the ski station at the summit. The scenery is a worthwhile distraction, at least, with stunning views of Mont Blanc and the other sentry mountains along the Italian border. Be sure to prepare for this: nutrition and hydration are key, as is pacing. There is not any water available once you depart Samoens, so plan accordingly. This was the final climb on the 2023 Etape du Tour.
Assembled on 23/07/23
Cult pass of the Grande Boucle. At first glance, the slope seems steady, 2 or 3km after Samoëns. But it would be a big mistake to set off from the foot of the pass with the intention of keeping up the pace! The steepest section, 4km before the pass and 300m long, will make you swallow your prejudices.
But the physical effort required is made up for by the pace of the road, all twists and turns and relatively good tarmac, with the added bonus of a very pleasant panorama (the Pointe Percée shows its head, and Mont Blanc dominates the whole valley on a clear day!). Beware of the revival required once over the pass and the descent to Morzine has begun, as it can be a real handful. You should also be careful and sure of your braking and trajectory on this descent, as some of the bends are tricky and the road is fairly narrow.
In short, a complicated climb to tackle, but one that will reward you with the feeling of having climbed one of the Tour's great Alpine passes. If the symbolism of the Joux-Plane pass is strong, the personal satisfaction of having conquered it is even greater!
Monté le 23/07/23
Col culte de la Grande Boucle. La pente semble aux premiers abords régulière, 2 ou 3km après Samoëns. Détrompez-vous, ce serait une grosse erreur de partir du pied avec l'intention de garder le rythme ! La portion la plus raide, 4km avant le col et longue de 300m, vous fera ravaler vos préjugés.
Mais l'effort physique requis est compensé par l'allure de la route, tout en lacets et en goudron relativement bon, avec en plus un panorama très agréable (la Pointe Percée montre sa tête, et le Mont-Blanc s'impose sur toute la vallée par temps clair !). Gare à la relance requise une fois passé le col et la descente vers Morzine entamée, elle casse sévèrement les pattes. Soyez également prudents et sûrs de vos freinages et trajectoires dans cette même descente, quelques virages sont piégeux et la route est assez étroite.
En bref, une ascension compliquée à aborder, mais qui saura vous récompenser avec le sentiment d'avoir gravi l'un des grands cols alpins du Tour. Si la symbolique du col de Joux-Plane est forte, la satisfaction personnelle de l'avoir dompté l'est encore plus !
did the climb a few days after #TDF2023, apart from 2 short thunderstorms with terrential rain...which on the other hand caused the temperature to be far below the +30 degrees that we have for weeks in the area.
Another beautiful climb ...roads are in good condition all the way through the climb.
Not to much motorized traffic...so it's a joy to ride up the mountain
Superb climb
Not always a regular climb, with the first part alternating between walls and false flats, then a second more "simple" with 9/10％ all the time, and finally an easy last km that allows you to put the gears back on.
Lovely views on the way up and a magnificent panorama from the top
Superbe montée
Col pas toujours régulier, avec une première partie alternant les murs et les faux-plats, puis une deuxième plus "simple" avec du 9/10％ tout le temps, et enfin un dernier km facile qui permet de remettre du braquet.
De jolies vues pendant la montée et un panorama grandiose là-haut
Regular climb with very little traffic. It is possible to ride up here with a steady gear. In the middle of the climb you get some refreshment through the bush, then back into the barrenness to the top. Here you can enjoy a nice view at the small lake.
Regelmatige klim met zeer weinig verkeer. Hier kan je met een gelijkmatig verzet goed omhoog rijden. In het midden van de klim krijg je wat verkoeling door het bosje, daarna terug de kaalte in naar de top. Hier kan je genieten van een mooi uitzicht aan het kleine meertje.
Very beautiful and intense ascent. The crossing of the forest leads to a magnificent panorama at the top.
Très belle ascension très intense. La traversé de la forêt mène à un magnifique panorama au sommet.
Very nice climb this. Great road surface, and at the start of September, only a small amount of traffic - although I heard from the locals that it's horrendous in the peak of summer!
The average gradient would put this at a fairly tough climb, but it's one you can take quite easily spinning in the lowest gear. Spoilt for views of the valley for the first half before you get high enough to see Mont Blanc in the distance. Amazing sight and you'll want to stop for a photo.
Great views at the top as well, and a nice cafe with spectacular views back across the valley.
While there is a reasonable amount of shade on this climb, best to tackle in the morning when it's cooler. Would be a nightmare during the afternoon heat with the sun on your back.
Wonderfully challenging climb where it's hard to get into your rhythm. Beautiful views and right in the sun, so vans fill up as you go up!
Prachtige uitdagende klim waar het moeilijk is om in je ritme te komen. Mooie uitzichten en pal in de zon, dus busjes vullen als je omhoog gaat!
Fully packed, we arrived from the Hotel de France in Thonon in a week of rain via a small 1000m coll in Samoëns and asked the bike mechanic about the Joux Plane, which seemed rather concealed.
Impossible il disait avec ce bagage, il faut aller aux Gets, we had little ears for that and accepted the challenge, after all we had already done some 1200km through Ardennes, Vosges and Jura. The rain didn't feel like a day off and halfway through I increased the pace and Koos had to let go, it was best to keep the bike warm because the rain changed to snow around 1000m, 26 was the max for the rear and 42 for the front.
In just under an hour and a nasty end, descending and climbing again.
Every day the legs grew at so much resistance from 20kg of luggage.
Volbepakt kwamen we vanaf Hotel de France in Thonon al in een week lang regen via een colletje van 1000m in Samoëns en vroegen bij de fietsenmaker naar de de Joux Plane die nogal verdekt opgesteld leek.
Impossible il disait avec ce bagage, il faut aller aux Gets, daar hadden we weinig oren naar en gingen de uitdaging aan, we hadden er tenslot al zo'n 1200km op zitten door Ardennen, Vogezen en Jura. De regen had nog weinig zin in een snipperdag en halverwege verhoogde ik het tempo en Koos moest lossen, best de motor op temperatuur houden want de regen veranderde dra in sneeuw rond de 1000m, 26 was de max achter en voor 42.
In een klein uurtje en een vervelend eind, dalen en nog eens klimmen.
Elke dag groeiden de benen bij zoveel weerstand van 20kg bagage.
There are some mountains that are just not comfortable. For me, this is definitely one of them, although the scenery is really beautiful. There is just no rhythm and the course is completely unpredictable. Finding the start is a bit tricky, but with the help of some locals I managed. Well, and then the climb. Parts of the climb were constant, parts of the climb were suddenly very steep, there were some crazy corners; I felt like I was being taken for a ride all the time. And then, when you reach the top, you can descend a bit and then you have to go up again. Typical! But it is an evocative climb with a lot of history and therefore an absolute must-do! Look around you, because the views are spectacular. Descent to Morzine is just as unpredictable, but fun to do!
Je hebt van die bergen, die gewoon niet lekker liggen. Voor mij is dit daar zeker één van, alhoewel het qua omgeving echt prachtig is. Er zit gewoon geen enkel ritme in en het verloop is volkomen onvoorspelbaar. Het vinden van de start is al wat lastig, maar met behulp van een paar locals lukte dat. Tsja, en dan de klim. Stukken constant, stukken met opeens hele steile passages, gekke bochten; ik had het idee continu in de maling te worden genomen. En dan ben je bij de top, mag je een stuk dalen en moet je toch weer een stuk omhoog. Kenmerkend! Maar wel een tot de verbeelding sprekende klim met veel historie en daarom absoluut een must-do! Kijk ook om je heen, want de uitzichten zijn spectaculair. Afdaling naar Morzine is trouwens net zo onvoorspelbaar, maar leuk om te doen!
Very hard climb, especially if you do it at the end of your ride. Be sure to fill up the water bottles in Samoëns, because the climb is right in the sun.
Climb begins in the village itself and later come the hairpin bends. Definitely a beautiful view, but unfortunately I was at the end of m's rope because of too little fluid. At the top of the mountain hut I drank a lot and enjoyed the view. Descent towards Morzine is careful because of irregular bends. Very good road surface, definitely not to be missed climb.
Loodzware klim, zeker als je hem op het einde van je rit doet. Vul zeker de waterflessen bij in Samoëns, want de klim ligt pal in de zon.
Klim begint al in het dorp zelf en wat later komen de haarspeldbochten. Vast en zeker een prachtig uitzicht, maar ik was helaas op het einde van m'n latijn wegens te weinig vocht. Boven aan de berghut veel gedronken en genoten van het uitzicht. Afdaling richting Morzine is opletten wegens onregelmatige bochten. Heel goed wegdek, zeker niet te missen klim.
Climb classified out of category by the Tour de France.
A must do. The second part is the steepest because > 9％
Montée classée hors catégorie par le tour de France.
A faire absolument. la seconde partie est la plus raide car > 9％
Ridden in September 2020. Can agree that it is a beautiful col - definitely put it on your bucket list!
At the top there is a small lake to take a breather and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
in september 2020 gereden. Kan beamen dat het pracht van een col is - zeker op je bucketlist zetten!
bovenaan een meertje om even uit te blazen en te genieten van de geweldige omgeving.
What a beautiful climb. Spectacular views of Mont Blanc in good weather. Regularly 13％ and longer parts 11. Great to do and hardly any traffic.
Wat een prachtige klim. Met mooi weer spectaculaire uitzichtennover de Mont Blanc. Regelmatig 13％ en langere delen 11. ％. Geweldig om te doen en nauwelijks verkeer.
The road surface is renewed for the tour in 2015. In short, good road surface and nice in terms of environment varied climb. From Morzine it's a different story, a lot of variation and a lot harder.
Het wegdek is vernieuwd t.b.v. de tour in 2015. Kortom goed wegdek en leuke qua omgeving variërende klim. Vanuit Morzine is het andere koek, veel afwisselingen en een stuk moeilijker
August 2018. Road surface is of excellent quality. Highly recommended lunch at the top of the restaurant with great views of Mont Blanc in clear weather.
Augustus 2018. Wegdek is van prima kwaliteit. Aanrader is een lunch boven in het restaurant met bij helder weer een prachtig uitzicht op de Mont Blanc.
For the start of the 'official' climb you need to cycle from Taninges all the way through the village of Samoëns until you reach the D354. From here, the climb starts. The climb is very steady and the percentage varies between 7 and 9 percent. The climb is a 'runner' as former cyclist and commentator Maarten Ducrot would indicate. Nowhere really difficult but by the length (13 km) and steepness you will feel this climb!
In contrast to what this site says, the road surface (2017) is fantastic!
Voor het begin van de 'officiële' klim moet je vanuit Taninges even helemaal door het dorpje Samoëns fietsen totdat je bij de D354 bent. Vanaf hier begint de klim. De klim is heel gelijkmatig en het percentage varieert tussen de 7 en 9 procent. De klim is een 'loper 'zoals oud wielrenner en commentator Maarten Ducrot zou aangeven. Nergens echt moeilijk maar door de lengte (13 km) en stijgingspercentage ga je deze klim wel voelen!
In tegenstelling wat er op deze site staat ligt het wegdek (2017) er fantastisch bij!
| 7 km/h | 01:38:28 |
| 11 km/h | 01:02:40 |
| 15 km/h | 00:45:57 |
| 19 km/h | 00:36:16 |
