Great St Bernard Hospice – Col du Grand Saint-Bernard loop from Bourg-Saint-Bernard
Great St Bernard Hospice – Col du Grand Saint-Bernard loop from Bourg-Saint-Bernard
5.0
(9)
174
riders
Great St Bernard Hospice – Col du Grand Saint-Bernard loop from Bourg-Saint-Bernard
02:51
39.6km
1,490m
Road cycling
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Tips
Temporary access restrictions
Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.
After 0 m for 18.3 km
Closed: • October-May (otherwise open)
After 21.4 km for 18.3 km
Closed: • October-May (otherwise open)
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
886 m
Martigny Pass Road Tunnel Entrance
Highlight (Segment) • Structure
I would strongly advise against any cyclist riding this full length pass from Martigny unless suicidal. I started from Martigny to complete the pass. There is both the tunnel and the pass road on this mountain, with the tunnel starting about halfway up the mountain. The lower half of the mountain is approx. 20 km long, which is also the entrance to the tunnel. The traffic going uphill is mostly in two lanes, there is an immense amount of traffic (especially heavy goods traffic!!!), which blasts up this access road at 80-100 km. Almost the entire route there is NO hard shoulder for cyclists and no breakdown lane, i.e. you drive in the right lane and the trucks thunder past you at a very short distance or you have to slam on the brakes. Due to the curves of medium length, the truck drivers only see you very late. There are also unlit tunnels WITHOUT hard shoulders and an approximately 4 km long gallery with dark lighting conditions in the upper part of the route. I turned back 2 km after Martigny because I'm not suicidal enough to take this risk, put the bike in the car and drove the approx. 20 km up by car. At some point the exit comes up, where you go straight ahead into the tunnel and turn right onto the pass. There are enough parking spaces there, you can then tackle the actual pass from there, which can then be driven very nicely. I strongly advise against the lower section. I took a few photos during the car ride, everyone can get an impression of what is going on there:
up.picr.de/26996213xp.jpg (impression of how close it is next to the truck)
up.picr.de/26996237yh.jpg (4 km long gallery, very busy with truck traffic, without hard shoulder!)
up.picr.de/26996190bb.jpg (many tunnels without hard shoulder with heavy goods traffic)
up.picr.de/26996230zh.jpg (100 km/h lane narrowing with long curves)
up.picr.de/26996200qa.jpg (long curves, danger from approaching trucks at 80 km/h!)
up.picr.de/26996206ow.jpg (numerous constrictions 2 tracks on 1 and vice versa)
That was the most dangerous thing I've ever experienced as a cyclist.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5.55 km
Small Mountain Lake on St.Bernard Pass
Highlight • Lake
6.23 km
Great St Bernard Hospice
Highlight • Mountain Pass
Translated by Google •
Tip by
6.65 km
Lac de Grand Saint Bernard
Highlight • Lake
Translated by Google •
Tip by
6.96 km
View of Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard
Highlight • Viewpoint
Translated by Google •
Tip by
11.1 km
Final climb to the Col du Grand Saint Bernard
Highlight • Viewpoint
Translated by Google •
Tip by
19.8 km
Start of the Serious Climb
Highlight • Climb
Translated by Google •
Tip by
33.4 km
Col du Grand Saint-Bernard
Highlight • Mountain Pass
And then you enter the tunnel, there you start to realize you've made it, you come out, follow the road that turns slightly to the left and, as if in a dream, the lake appears.
You reach the top and think about how many people throughout the centuries have traveled this road: Salassi, Romans, monks, migrants, Napoleonic soldiers... you realize you are in a place where History is dense and nature is stunning, and there you can only love this hill
Showing Translation
Tip by
39.6 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
38.9 km
500 m
220 m
Surfaces
39.4 km
220 m
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Elevation
Highest point (2,460 m)
Lowest point (1,530 m)
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Weather
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Thursday 28 May
14°C
7°C
12 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.