Col des Mosses, a very relaxing drive with nice views

Col des Mosses is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.452m (4,763ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Vaud, in Switzerland.

Nestled in the Swiss Alps, the road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called Route 11. The pass is 32.4 km (20.13 miles) long, running from Château-d'Œx (a municipality in the canton of Vaud in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut) to Aigle (a municipality in the district of Aigle in the canton of Vaud). The road is usually kept open throughout the year.

The road to the summit is a bit steep, hitting a maximum gradient of 8.4% through some of the ramps. The pass has featured many times in the Tour de France race. There are 2 routes to reach the summit. Starting from Chateau dOex, the ascent is 14 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 521 meters. The average percentage is 3.7 % and the maximum slope is 8 %. This via is easier, better road generally, but with more traffic and villages.

And starting from Aigle, the ascent is 18.8 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.028 meters. The average percentage is 5.5 %. The climb up to the col is really fun. Once back into the foothills it runs through some picture postcard scenery through tons of little villages, forcing your speed down. There is a fabulous little stretch through a gorge alongside a wild mountain river just east of Chateaux d'Oex.