Top 11 Mountain Passes around Saint-Jean-La-Bussière

Even using the cycle lane I don't feel safe: heavy road traffic and a circuit popular with motorbikes which overtake you at very high speed.

The pass of the pavilion culminates at 755 meters above sea level. The view of the western slope is quite unobstructed. I recommend a stop at the Le Pavillon hostel-hotel, which offers good food and allows you to take a break after climbing the pass.

A rolling pass but with a lot of traffic including some heavy goods vehicles. A wide cycle lane allows cyclists to climb in safety. However I advise to take another pass to make the junction, for example to use the road between the cassettes and the pestle on a false uphill slope.

Col de la Croix des Fourches, in the middle of the forest, on the heights of the village of Saint-Just d'Avray.

A small pass to do from Tarare, or Valsonne. Not very hard percentages and quite short. Rural landscapes surround us on the climb. Note a beautiful little road that connects the Col de la Croix Paquet, Col du Pilon with beautiful views but a coating that is not incredible so you can enjoy the landscapes.

Culminates at 755 m. To be done from several sides: St Vincent de Rhins, Cours la ville, La Ville, from the Rhine via Thel, from Mardore. On all sides fairly simple collar overall without large percentage. An inn is at the top for a supply possibly. Nice views but not amazing either. The view is unobstructed on the west side at the top.

3 or even 5 possible climbs: from Azergues via Grandris 3: the main one, a small annex in less good condition from Grandris Haut and a terrible variant via Gondras with passages at 25% from Grandris bas. They all return to the main road before the pass. The main road and on a road in fairly good condition, little gradient 3/4% for about 9 km with beautiful landscapes and quite a few clear views. On the Rhine valley side, you can climb from Cublize (approximately 5% average but much shorter) or from Magny via Meaux la Montagne. On the latter the climb to Meaux is quite steep at 7/8% then after Meaux the slope is gentle not far from 2/3%. On these faces the landscapes are less clear but still appreciable. In summer be careful because good parts of the pass especially from the Rhine are in full dodger for quite a long time.

Quite an easy pass on the Ronno side. The beginning of the Col du Pilon is quite frequented by cars, then you turn onto a quieter road. The scenery is not very present, but the atmosphere in the forest is great, especially in damp weather. On the Saint-Just-d'Avray side, from the Azergues valley, the climb is long but progressive. The percentages really become interesting from Saint-Just onwards. On this side, the landscapes are more open before turning for the last part where you enter the forest with an even steeper percentage: 6 and 7% with the same refreshing atmosphere, especially in summer. You can reach the crests forest road by gravel or mountain bike.