Summer ends, the days shorten and the mountains turn golden. It is a magnificent season of transition — but also the moment when the great Alpine road passes begin to close for the winter, one by one, as snow returns to altitude. For cyclists, motorcyclists, road trippers and anyone planning a late-season mountain journey, knowing when the passes close is essential. This page is regularly updated with the 2026 forecast closing dates for the major French Alpine passes.
👉 See also: When do Alpine passes open? Opening dates and guide
Why do Alpine passes close in winter?
Pass closures are a safety decision, not an administrative one. From the first significant snowfall — generally in October at altitude — conditions deteriorate rapidly:
- Black ice: freeze-thaw cycles create invisible patches of ice on the road surface — particularly dangerous for motorcycles and cyclists.
- Snowfall: at high altitude, snow accumulates rapidly to depths of several metres, making clearing operations costly relative to the traffic using the road.
It is the road departments of the relevant départements (Savoie, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, etc.) that manage these roads and decide when to close. If a road is kept open it must be continuously cleared and avalanche slopes managed — a significant ongoing cost for low-traffic mountain routes.
French Alps pass closing dates — 2026 forecast
The dates below are estimates based on previous years and announced schedules. An early cold snap or exceptional snowfall can advance a closure by several weeks. Always check real-time road status before setting out. High-altitude passes above 2,500 m can close as early as October after a single major snowfall.
— last updated 22 June 2026 —
| Pass | Altitude | 2026 forecast closing date | 2025 actual closing date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Col de Larche (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence / Italy) | 1,991 m | ✅ Open year-round (occasional closures) | — |
| Col de Vars (Hautes-Alpes / Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) | 2,108 m | ✅ Open year-round (occasional closures) | — |
| Col de l’Épine (Savoie) | 987 m | 🔴 Forecast: late November 2026 | 19 November 2025 |
| Relais du Mont du Chat (Savoie) | 1,504 m | 🔴 Forecast: late November 2026 | 18 November 2025 |
| Col d’Allos (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) | 2,248 m | 🔴 Forecast: late November 2026 | 29 September 2025 |
| Col de la Cayolle (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence / Alpes-Maritimes) | 2,327 m | 🔴 Forecast: late November 2026 | 21 November 2025 |
| Col du Noyer (Hautes-Alpes) | 1,664 m | 🔴 Forecast: late November 2026 | 20 November 2025 |
| Col de Joux Plane (Haute-Savoie) | 1,712 m | 🔴 Forecast: mid-November 2026 (south side open in winter for cross-country skiing) | Mid-November 2025 |
| Col du Mont-Cenis (Savoie / Italy) | 2,080 m | 🔴 Forecast: mid-November 2026 | 14 November 2025 |
| Mont Ventoux | 1,909 m | 🔴 Forecast: late November 2026 | 18 November 2025 |
| Col de la Colombière (Haute-Savoie) | 1,613 m | 🔴 Forecast: late November 2026 | 18 November 2025 |
| Col de la Bonette-Restefond (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence / Alpes-Maritimes) | 2,715 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October 2026 | 20 October 2025 (snow) |
| Col d’Izoard (Hautes-Alpes) | 2,362 m | 🔴 Forecast: mid-November 2026 (accessible in winter on foot / cross-country skis) | 14 November 2025 |
| Cormet de Roselend (Savoie) | 1,968 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October / early November 2026 | 23 October 2025 |
| Col de la Croix de Fer (Savoie / Isère) | 2,068 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October / early November 2026 | 22 October 2025 |
| Col du Glandon (Savoie / Isère) | 1,924 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October / early November 2026 | 21 October 2025 |
| Col de la Madeleine (Savoie) | 1,984 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October / early November 2026 | 23 October 2025 |
| Col du Granon (Hautes-Alpes) | 2,404 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October 2026 | 20 October 2025 |
| Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard (Savoie / Italy) | 2,188 m | 🔴 Forecast: early November 2026 | 22 September 2025 (closed for works) |
| Col de la Loze — cycle path only (Savoie) | 2,304 m | 🔴 Forecast: end of September 2026 | 31 October 2024 |
| Col du Galibier (Savoie / Hautes-Alpes) | 2,645 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October / early November 2026 | 22 October 2025 (snow) |
| Col de l’Iseran (Savoie) | 2,770 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October / early November 2026 | 20 October 2025 (snow) |
| Col Agnel (Hautes-Alpes / Italy) | 2,744 m | 🔴 Forecast: late October 2026 | 24 October 2025 |
How to check real-time pass status
Bookmark these official département road authority websites before your journey:
- Savoie Route — covers Iseran, Galibier (north), Madeleine, Petit-Saint-Bernard, Cormet de Roselend.
- Inforoute Hautes-Alpes — covers Galibier (south), Izoard, Agnel, Granon, Noyer.
- Inforoute Alpes-de-Haute-Provence — covers Allos, Cayolle, Larche.
- Inforoutes Alpes-Maritimes — covers Bonette-Restefond, Lombarde.
- Inforoute Haute-Savoie — covers Joux Plane, Colombière.
What do pass closures mean in practice?
Pass closures have a direct impact on life in the Alpine valleys and on travel planning:
- For travellers: Detours become necessary between valleys. Crossing from the Maurienne to Briançon without the Galibier, for example, requires a significant diversion through the lowlands. Plan routes carefully from October onwards.
- For long-distance cycling: The Route des Grandes Alpes (Thonon-les-Bains to Nice) is only feasible in its entirety from mid-June to early October. Outside this window, some high passes will be closed.
- For ski season: Pass closures mark the transition to winter — some pass roads even become ski pistes (Col du Mont-Cenis, Col de la Madeleine) as resorts prepare for the season.
The Alps in autumn — what to do when the passes close
Pass closures do not mean the end of mountain activity — autumn is one of the finest seasons in the Alps:
- Mid-altitude hiking: The larch forests turn golden from late September — some of the most beautiful walking of the year, with the high peaks now snow-covered above.
- Cycling in the valleys: Valley roads and lower foothills offer excellent riding, with far less traffic than summer. Passes that remain open year-round (Vars, Larche, Montgenèvre) are still accessible.
- Culture and gastronomy: Autumn is the ideal season to explore Alpine heritage and local produce — the cheese-making season, harvest festivals and quieter village life.
See our complete guide to the French Alps in autumn and what to do in the French Alps in October.
👉 Read also: When do Alpine passes open? Opening dates guide · 15 legendary Alpine cycling climbs · Crossing the Alps from France to Italy · Alternatives to the Mont Blanc tunnel