The Geneva-side gateway to the Jura, the Col de la Faucille climbs from Gex up to a balcony famous for its sweeping view over Lake Geneva and, in the distance, the Mont Blanc range.
The route
From Gex, at around 670 m elevation, the road climbs for 10.1 km to the pass at 1,323 m, gaining 654 m at an average of 6.5%. The first kilometers are the gentlest, before the final five ramp up to 8.1% through the switchbacks leading to the top.
How to approach the ride
It pays to keep something in reserve for the second half of the climb, which is noticeably tougher than the start. The road is wide and well maintained throughout, and regularly used by cyclists from the Geneva basin who’ve made it a local classic.
When to go
April to October: the road is generally rideable from spring onward, but it’s worth checking conditions after a snowy winter, since the nearby Les Rousses ski resort regularly holds snow well into the season.
Good to know
Gex, the starting town, has all the services you’d need before setting off. At the top, a viewpoint table and a few shops make for a good pause facing the panorama before continuing, for the more motivated, toward La Faucille and Mijoux on the Jura side, or heading straight back down to Geneva.
