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Col de la Croix de Fer
The Col de la Croix de Fer links the Maurienne, at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, to the Oisans, in the Isère. It must not be confused on any point with the Col du Glandon, three kilometres to the west, which shares its road until the last two hundred metres.
Sjaak Kempe from Groningen, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Road pass and viewpoint
Access
Free
Best season
Late May – early November
Parking
Free, motorhomes allowed
Town
Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves
Winter access
closed
What is Col de la Croix de Fer
The Col de la Croix de Fer lies in the commune of Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves (73530), in Savoie, per IGN. It links the Maurienne valley, to the east, with the Oisans, to the west, in the Isère. The road is written RD926 by Vélo Maurienne and D926 by other sources on the Savoie side; on the Isère side the préfecture writes D526.
Its altitude is not settled: four figures circulate — 2,064, 2,065, 2,067 and 2,068 m — each carried by serious sources. No IGN elevation data could be obtained. We do not pick a winner.
Its immediate neighbour is the Col du Glandon, three kilometres to the west, at 1,924 m, on the RD927: the Glandon's south-west approach shares its road with the Croix de Fer except for the last two hundred metres. The two cols do not share an altitude, a road number, or an opening date — a month apart in 2026.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Altitude
2,067 m per the Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves tourist office. Other sources give 2,064, 2,065 or 2,068 m. Unresolved.
Coordinates
45.227482° N, 6.203515° E (IGN POI index)
2026 opening
The Département de la Savoie release of 23 April 2026 announces a 20–22 May 2026 window covering both the Croix de Fer and the Petit-Saint-Bernard, each under alternating traffic; 20 May is the date the press carries for the Croix de Fer. No source confirms it actually opened on that date, or where the alternating section applies.
2026 closing
Price
Free, open access
Parking
Free at the col. Motorhomes allowed.
Dogs
Accessibility
Col du Glandon
The neighbouring pass, three kilometres to the west, at 1,924 m, on the RD927. It opened on 19 June 2026 and only from Saint-Colomban-des-Villards, because a drainage structure was being replaced after mudflows. Do not conflate the two.
2026 temporary closures
The D526 between Vaujany and the col is closed on 19 July 2026 from 06:30 to 11:30 (L'Étape du Tour) and from 18:00 on 24 July 2026 (Tour de France stage 20 on 25 July).
Isère side
A rockfall at Vaujany closing the RD526 in both directions was reported by the regional press, but we could neither read nor date the article. Check road status on the Isère side before crossing.
Access
How to get there
By car
On the RD926 from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to the east, or the D526 from Vaujany and the Oisans to the west. Closed in winter. Live status on savoie-route.fr for the Savoie side.
Open in MapsBy bike
From Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne: 29.3 km at 6% average for 1,620 m of climbing, with three consecutive tunnels between kilometres 12 and 13. From Allemond: 29 km, +1,507 m, 6.5% average. From Le Bourg-d'Oisans: 31 km and +1,576 m per the Bourg d'Oisans tourist office (the Allemond figure is Route des Grandes Alpes). These figures only mean anything alongside their starting point. The Tour de France crosses on 25 July 2026, stage 20.
Open in MapsWhen to visit
When to visit
The road is open from late May to early November. In 2026 the announced opening is 20 May, under alternating traffic. No closing date is published. The neighbouring Col du Glandon opened a month later, on 19 June, and only from Saint-Colomban-des-Villards.
Events :
L'Étape du Tour on 19 July 2026 and stage 20 of the Tour de France on 25 July 2026 both close the D526 between Vaujany and the col.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Closed (road shut in winter) — Live status: savoie-route.fr
Winter infrastructure
Snowshoeing · Ski touring
Snow panorama
Alpine panorama
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
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Become a partnerPhotos
Gallery
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How high is the Col de la Croix de Fer?
Sources give four figures: 2,064, 2,065, 2,067 and 2,068 m. The Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves tourist office writes 2,067 m. No IGN elevation data could be obtained, so we do not pick a winner.
Is the Col de la Croix de Fer the same as the Col du Glandon?
No. The Glandon is three kilometres to the west, at 1,924 m, on the RD927. The two roads are shared except for the last two hundred metres. In 2026 the Croix de Fer opened a month before the Glandon.
Is the Col de la Croix de Fer open in 2026?
The Département de la Savoie announced an opening on 20 May 2026, under alternating traffic. We found no source confirming it actually opened that day. Check savoie-route.fr before setting off.
Is there a restaurant at the col?
A chalet appears in search results but all of its pages are inaccessible to us. We publish neither its existence, nor its hours, nor its season. Confirmed: free parking, a picnic area and an orientation table.
Does the Marmotte go over the Col de la Croix de Fer?
Not in 2026. The official site for the 28 June 2026 event lists the Col du Glandon, the Télégraphe, the Galibier, the Lautaret and Alpe d'Huez. The Tour de France, on the other hand, crosses both cols on 25 July 2026.
Sources
Sources & verification
- Office de Tourisme de Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves — col de la Croix de Fer
- Explore Savoie — col de la Croix de Fer
- Vélo Maurienne — info live, cols
- Département de la Savoie — communiqué déneigement et ouverture des grands cols (23 avril 2026)
- ODS Radio — quelles dates pour la réouverture des grands cols
- Préfecture de l'Isère — L'Étape du Tour de France 2026, restrictions de circulation
- Vélo Maurienne — Tour de France 2026
- Oisans Tourisme — dépliant Tour de France 2026, étapes 19 et 20 (PDF)
- IGN — géocodeur POI data.geopf.fr
- Société de Jeunesse Alpine 73 — les trois lacs depuis le col de la Croix de Fer
- La Toussuire — monter au col de la Croix de Fer à vélo
- Marmotte Granfondo Alpes 2026
- Route des Grandes Alpes — col de la Croix de Fer (profil versant Isère)
- Office de Tourisme de Bourg d'Oisans — col de la Croix de Fer
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Paid
Pointe de la Masse Gondola
Les Belleville
Gondola to 2,804 m above Les Menuires, closed Thursday to Saturday inclusive. Glass-floored cabin and machine-room access included with the pedestrian ticket.
Paid
Orelle – Cime Caron Gondola
Orelle
Two-section link from Orelle to the Cime Caron, replacing the 3 Vallées Express. Summer 2026: 4 July – 30 August, 7 days a week, 09:45–16:15.
Paid
Cime Caron Cable Car
Les Belleville
From 2,320 m to about 3,190 m above Val Thorens. New cabins since 22 November 2025. Summer 2026: 4 July – 28 August, 9:45am–4:15pm, last ascent 3:45pm.
Free
Col du Glandon
Saint-Colomban-des-Villards
Pass at 1,924 m between the Isère and the Savoie, 2.5 km from the Croix de Fer. In 2026, access from Saint-Colomban-des-Villards did not open before 19 June.
Free
Col du Mollard
Albiez-Montrond
Pass at 1,638 m above Albiez-Montrond, known for its 45 hairpins. A lake and a fountain at the top; no supervised swimming is documented.
Free
Col du Galibier
Valloire
Summit road at 2,642 m, tunnel at 2,556 m: two separate openings in 2026, on 29 May and 5 June. Free access from Valloire. Cyclists are banned from the tunnel.