Seasonal conditions
Open roughly June–October (snow closes the col in winter). Best July–September. Verified 2026-11-08 (Regione Valle d'Aosta / Savoie Mont Blanc).
ROUTE
The Little St Bernard Pass Ride — Courmayeur to La Thuile and the Col
From Courmayeur up the La Thuile valley to the 2,188 m Little St Bernard col — the Roman road, the cycle-of-remembrance stone circle and the Lac de Verney on the French border ridge.
scenic-road62 km1.2 hmoderate
Rémih / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
ABOUT THIS ROUTE
The route in detail
The Little St Bernard pass (Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard, 2,188 m) is the gentler neighbour of its Great namesake: a long, steady climb from Courmayeur through La Thuile to a broad grassy col ringed by the Spectacles of Cicero's Roman road, a stone circle of modern commemorative sculptures and the small alpine lake of Verney straddling the French border. The road is a motorcycle classic for its even gradients and the treeless summit plateau.
From Courmayeur the SS26 climbs the La Thuile valley past the mineral springs and chairlift stations to La Thuile village, then switchbacks through forest to the tree line. The last section opens onto the plateau: the Roman mansio ruins, the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard marker and the modern stone circle commemorating the 1944 fighting sit within walking distance, with the Lac de Verney just below on the French side. The pass road continues to Bourg-Saint-Maurice in France; riders turn back for the Courmayeur descent with the whole Mont Blanc range in afternoon view.
PLAN RESPONSIBLY
Season & safety
Key hazards
- Crosswinds on the exposed summit plateau.
- Snow patches into late June at the col.
- Cattle and shepherd fences on the plateau roads.
- French-side traffic climbs hard on summer weekends.
Required gear
- Certified motorcycle helmet and full protective riding gear.
- Warm layer — the col sits at 2,188 m.
- Waterproof outer layer and charged phone.
- Basic puncture and roadside emergency equipment.
Check before you go
- Check the pass opening bulletin before the season starts.
- Check the mountain forecast for wind at the col.
- Confirm fuel in Courmayeur or La Thuile.
- Plan the return within daylight.
Local guidance
Treat the published duration as riding time only. Follow posted limits and keep off the soft plateau verges.
WAYPOINTS
Route points
- 01
Courmayeur
start
- 02
La Thuile
waypoint
- 03
Col du Petit St-Bernard
end
MAP & ROUTE
On the atlas
Elevation3,133 m high point580 m low point3,410 m total climbing70% steepest stretch (km 2.6)
DESTINATIONS
Places on this route
Aosta
The Rome of the Alps — a Roman-founded capital ringed by 4,000-metre peaks, where a ruined theatre and a triumphal arch sit at the crossroads of two great Alpine passes.
Aosta Valley
Courmayeur
The pearl of the Alps — Italy’s oldest mountain resort under the south face of Mont Blanc, where a rotating cable car climbs to 3,466 m and two glacial valleys begin at the edge of town.
Aosta Valley
Cervinia
Italy under the Pyramid — Europe’s highest resort at the foot of the Matterhorn, where the lifts climb to 3,882 m, the glacier skis in July, and the mountain of mountains fills every window.
Aosta Valley
INTERESTS
Why riders & travellers love it
WEATHER
Weather along the route
Forecast data from Open-Meteo. Updated regularly.
NEARBY
Explore nearby
REGIONS
Explore the region
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