Culminating at an altitude of 947 m, the Col de l'Epine is a small pass located in the forest under the thorns. On the road between Thones and Faverges, this pass is very popular with beginners and experienced cyclists. A small pass connecting Thônes and the Aravis massif to Annecy and its lake, it is a route little known to the general public and yet so popular with cyclists!
A forest pass
Passage between Thônes and Albertville
The Col de l'Epine is a small pass located at an altitude of 947 m which connects the valleys of Thônes and Faverges. From Thônes, the The road crosses villages and mountain pastures in a wild, calm and serene setting. This little-used route gives you time to admire the landscapes with Mount Charvin and the Aiguilles du Mont on one side, and the Pointe de la Beccaz on the other. Once you reach the pass, you are in the forest. On the way back down, the road overlooks the Chaise valley with the Dent de Cons and the Pointe de la Sambuy in your sights.
In cyclo mode
From Serraval
The Col de l'Epine has been crossed three times by the Tour de France., twice a Serraval and once via Marlens. From Thônes, you will first have to cross the Marais Pass, to reach Serraval and head towards the Col de l'Epine which does not present any major difficulty from this side. With a length of 7,5 km from Serraval, the slope will be on average 2,6% and will not exceed 6% for a height difference of 200 m: perfect for getting your legs going in the spring! The greenway of the Faverges valley and the cycle paths around Lake Annecy will allow you to extend your tours in a pleasant way.
From Marlens
On the other hand, from Marlens, the difficulty of climbing this small pass is completely different. Indeed, the road climbs constantly and steadily with an average of 7%. Signs accompany you throughout the climb as in the big passes. Arrived at the summit, you will have covered 7 km and 490 m of elevation gain from this slope and gained a beautiful view of the Sulens mountain and the first foothills of the Aravis rangeA sporty climb, ideal for tackling steep gradients but which remains pleasant due to its green surroundings and little traffic.
Activities at the Col de l'Epine
A car park – the Pylône car park – is located on the right as you go back down towards Marlens. It is located right next to the free flight take-off area.
Hiking from the Col de l'Epine
The Iron Pass
A sporty loop (600 m elevation gain) towards the Col du Fer (1489 m) takes you under the foothills of the Aiguilles du Mont Charvin. Arriving at the pass, a magnificent view is revealed with on one side: the Sulens mountain, Tulle, Aiguille du Bouchet, and on the other side: the Dent de Cons and the various summits of the Bauges. On the way back, you will borrow part of the Tour du Val Sulens route to reach the small village of Ville de Rosset just before the pass.
Flying from the Thorn Pass
A take-off area for single paragliders or cross-country flights is accessible at the Col de l'Epine with the car park located right next door.
