Cycling the Col de la Croix de Fer is a hard, but beautiful, ride you won’t forget. It combines steep, continually changing gradients with majestic scenery and Tour de France history. And when you ride from Bourg d’Oisans in the south, you get a little bonus of the Col du Glandon for barely any additional effort.
This is one of the big rides of the region and is not to be missed.
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All metrics in this article are approximate.
Croix De Fer/Glandon highlights
The two spectacular turquoise lakes: the Lac du Verney and the Lac de Grand Maison. The latter is even more stunning than the former.
Lac du Verney near Allemont
Lac de Grand Maison near Col de la Croix de Fer
View towards Col de la Croix de FerRoute notes
1. Bourg d’Oisans to Allemond: 0-11km
It’s a straightforward, flat warm up along the main road (there’s a bike path), to the Barrage du Verney, the first dam of the day.
2. Allemond to Lac du Grand Maison: 11-30km
Once you’re around the lake, you pass the EDF hydroelectricity museum, and the climb starts to ramp up. The next six kilometres are tough, through the trees, with gradients between about 7 and 10%.
The road winds through Le Rivier d’Allemont and just the other side, there’s a fast descent down to the river. Make the most of the descent and be ready for the cruel kick up that greets you the other side.
It’s then six kilometres of changing gradients as the road winds around steep, grey cliffs. As you approach the huge wall of the Lac du Grand Maison dam, there’s a couple of nasty hairpins which take you up level with the impressive reservoir.
3. Lac du Grand Maison to Croix de Fer and Col du Glandon: 30-42 km
The Lac du Grand Maison holds 140 million cubic metres of water. It’s huge and, surrounded by mountain peaks, it’s seriously beautiful.
At the end of the lake there’s a short descent for a kilometre or so, and then you’re climbing again. The scenery changes quite dramatically here in the last section to the top. Gone are the trees and narrow, craggy valley. In its place is a wide, almost moorland vista across an open valley with green meadows and sharply jutting peaks on either side. It’s dramatic and inspiring in equal measure.
At 36.5km you pass the Chalet Col du Glandon restaurant and the turning to the Col du Glandon. From there it’s a mere three kilometres to the iron cross of the Croix de Fer summit and an additional couple of kilometres back down to the Col du Glandon.
Lush green Alpine hillsides on the way up the Croix de Fer pass
Close to the summit of the Col de la Croix de Fer
Photo credit: COLOMBO NICOLA/Shutterstock.comCafé stops
In the village of Allemond, you’ll find a boulangerie and a few bars and cafes. Rivier d’Allemont also has some cafe options.
At the top of the Croix de Fer is a small, unpretentious cafe that serves drinks and light food (when we visited it was cash only, so come prepared!). Alternatively, you can call in at the Chalet Col du Glandon restaurant (it gets good reviews) or the little kiosk at the top of the Glandon.
Rivier d’Allemont restaurant option
Chalet Col du Glandon restaurant. Photo credit: COLOMBO NICOLA/Shutterstock.com
Chalet du Col de la Croix de FerAccommodation
We’ve written a separate article on the best places to stay in/around Alpe d’Huez, based on our experiences. We hope it helps you choose!
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Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels – and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they’re there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.
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Are there any toilet stops other than cafes you pointed out on the route?
Not that I’m aware of. Did you find any?