In the French Alps, most mountain passes close in winter — buried under snow and exposed to avalanche risk, they are expensive to clear and serve little strategic purpose out of season. Only a handful remain open year-round: the col de Larche, col de Vars, col du Lautaret and col de Montgenèvre. From mid-April to late June, depending on altitude and snowfall, the département road authorities progressively clear and open the passes. This page is regularly updated with the current opening dates for the major Alpine passes.
Read also: 15 legendary Alpine cycling climbs in the French Alps
— last updated 19 June 2026 —
French Alps pass opening dates — 2026
| Pass | Altitude | 2026 opening date | Previous year 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 | ✅ Open since 10 April 2026 | 19 November 2025 |
| Relais du Mont du Chat (Savoie) | 1,504 m | ✅ Open since 22 April 2026 | 18 November 2025 |
| Col de la Cayolle (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence / Alpes-Maritimes) | 2,327 m | ✅ Open since 29 April 2026 | 21 November 2025 |
| Col du Noyer (Hautes-Alpes) | 1,664 m | ✅ Open since 29 April 2026 | 20 November 2025 |
| Col de Joux Plane (Haute-Savoie) | 1,712 m | ✅ Open since 30 April 2026 | Mid-November 2025 |
| Col du Mont-Cenis (Savoie / Italy) | 2,080 m | ✅ Open since 13 May 2026 | 16 May 2025 (opened) |
| Mont Ventoux | 1,909 m | ✅ Open since 15 May 2026 (Bédoin side from 18 April) | 16 May 2025 (opened) |
| Col de la Colombière (Haute-Savoie) | 1,613 m | ✅ Open since 6 May 2026 | 21 November 2025 |
| Col de la Bonette-Restefond (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence / Alpes-Maritimes) | 2,715 m | ✅ Open since 19 May 2026 | 20 October 2025 |
| Col d’Izoard (Hautes-Alpes) | 2,362 m | ✅ Open since ~15 May 2026 | ~15 May 2025 (opened) |
| Cormet de Roselend (Savoie) | 1,968 m | ✅ Open since 23 May 2026 | 23 October 2025 |
| Col de l’Échelle (Hautes-Alpes) | 1,762 m | ✅ Open since 22 May 2026 | 23 October 2025 |
| Col de la Croix de Fer (Savoie / Isère) | 2,068 m | ✅ Open since 29 May 2026 | 22 October 2025 |
| Col du Glandon (Savoie / Isère) | 1,924 m | ✅ Open since 19 June 2026 | 21 October 2025 |
| Col de la Madeleine (Savoie) | 1,984 m | ✅ Open since 29 May 2026 | 23 October 2025 |
| Col du Granon (Hautes-Alpes) | 2,404 m | ✅ Open since 3 June 2026 | 20 October 2025 |
| Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard (Savoie / Italy) | 2,188 m | ✅ Open since 23 May 2026 | 22 September 2025 |
| Col de la Loze — cycle path only (Savoie) | 2,304 m | 🚲 Open from 30 June 2026 (cyclists only) | End of summer |
| Col du Galibier (Savoie / Hautes-Alpes) | 2,645 m | ✅ Tunnel open since 29 May 2026 — col open since 5 June 2026 | 22 October 2025 |
| Col de l’Iseran (Savoie) | 2,770 m | ✅ Open since 12 June 2026 | 20 October 2025 |
| Col d’Allos (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) | 2,248 m | ✅ Open since 12 June 2026 | 29 September 2025 |
| Col Agnel (Hautes-Alpes / Italy) | 2,744 m | ✅ Open since 29 May 2026 | 24 October 2025 |
For real-time status, check the relevant département road authority websites: Haute-Savoie · Savoie · Hautes-Alpes · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence · Alpes-Maritimes
Why do Alpine passes close in winter?
Most passes close because they are buried under snow and exposed to avalanche risk — and because clearing them is expensive for relatively little year-round traffic. The passes that remain open all winter (Larche, Lautaret, Vars, Montgenèvre) are strategically important routes that also serve local communities. The others are largely tourism roads: opening them from spring to autumn is sufficient. The cost of clearing a pass from snow is significant — in the Hautes-Alpes département alone, opening the passes costs around €70,000 per year.
Which pass opens first in spring?
Among the year-round passes (Vars, Montgenèvre, Larche), no opening is needed. For the seasonal passes, those at lower altitude or in the southern Alps open first. In Savoie, the Col de l’Épine (987 m, linking the Chambéry basin to Lac d’Aiguebelette) is typically the first to open each spring — often in mid-April. Among passes above 2,000 m, the first to open are usually the Cols d’Allos, de la Cayolle and du Mont-Cenis.
Which pass opens last?
The last passes to open are the highest — typically the Col Agnel (2,744 m, linking the Queyras massif to Italy), the Col de l’Iseran (2,770 m, the highest paved pass in the Alps) and the Col du Galibier (2,645 m). Only two or three passes open in June; the majority open in May. The timing varies significantly year to year depending on winter snowfall.
Passes reserved for cyclists — the car-free sessions
From May to September each year, the départements of Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Hautes-Alpes temporarily close around 50 legendary climbs to motor traffic — reserving them exclusively for cyclists for a morning or an evening. Giants like the Galibier, Iseran, Izoard, Granon and Semnoz become safe, peaceful and car-free for a few hours. Free to participate, untimed and open to all — from competitive cyclists to families on e-bikes — these events often include refreshment stops at the summit. No registration required: simply respect the time window and allow 15–30 minutes to descend before the road reopens to cars. Always take a warm layer — temperatures drop fast above 2,000 m.
👉 See our guide to the 15 legendary Alpine cycling climbs
Will passes open earlier or later than usual?
Opening dates vary significantly year to year. A dry winter followed by a warm spring can bring openings two weeks ahead of the typical schedule. Conversely, heavy late-season snowfall — particularly above 2,000 m — delays clearing operations and pushes back opening dates. The Col du Galibier, Col de la Croix de Fer and Col d’Izoard are particularly sensitive to late snowfall. In any given year, the definitive opening dates for the high passes are only confirmed a few weeks in advance.
How does a pass get opened?
Opening a pass requires a coordinated operation: the road authorities must first trigger and stabilise avalanche-prone slopes, then clear the road surface of snow. Ski resort grooming machines are sometimes used to trigger avalanches and remove compacted snow; otherwise, snow blowers and ploughs do the work over several days. It is not a carbon-neutral process — clearing the passes in the Hautes-Alpes département alone costs around €70,000 per year in machinery and labour.
Can you go up before the pass officially opens?
Even by bike, going up a closed pass before its official opening is both illegal and genuinely dangerous. The road is closed by official order, and uncleared sections may still be exposed to avalanche risk — with snow-clearing machinery actively working on the slopes. Even after clearing, the road surface will not yet have been swept and will be covered in loose gravel and stones, which create serious puncture and fall risk. Wait for the official opening.
Where to see the best snow walls at opening
The classic image of a pass opening — a narrow road cut through towering walls of snow — is more rare than you might think. Snow walls form mainly on north-facing slopes, in avalanche couloirs and natural wind-trap hollows. By mid-July they have usually disappeared. The best places to see impressive snow walls at opening time are the upper slopes of the Col du Galibier (sometimes 2 m high at opening), the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard and the upper slopes of the Col du Glandon. The very highest passes — Col de l’Iseran, Col Agnel, Col d’Izoard — also reliably offer walls of snow in early June.
👉 Read also: 15 legendary Alpine cycling climbs in the French Alps · Crossing the Alps from France to Italy · Alternatives to the Mont Blanc tunnel · Alternatives to the Fréjus tunnel