Driving the 20 hairpins of Col de la Joux Verte: The road to Avoriaz
Col de la Joux Verte is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,760 meters (5,774 feet) above sea level located in the Haute-Savoie department of France, carried by the D338 road connecting Morzine to Avoriaz near the Swiss border.
| Location | Haute-Savoie, France (Alps) |
| Elevation | 1,760 m (5,774 ft) |
| Length | 11.2 km (from Morzine) |
| Hairpin Turns | 20 |
| Max Gradient | 12.1% |
How challenging is the D338 ascent to Col de la Joux Verte?
Starting from Morzine, the 11.2 km climb gains 802 meters of vertical elevation at an average gradient of 7.16%, with steep sections reaching 12.1%. The road climbs through 20 tight hairpins, requiring continuous downshifting, hard braking before each bend, and good engine cooling to handle the sustained load.
What are the hazards of the road to Avoriaz?
Heavy traffic mixes on the narrow asphalt, including tourist buses, cyclists, and local delivery vans heading to the ski resort. Tight hairpins force wide turns that swing into the oncoming lane on blind bends, while melting snow banks drop gravel onto the asphalt and create black ice during shoulder seasons.
What is the best driving strategy for the Haute-Savoie passes?
Low speeds and high engine revs on the 11.2 km climb put heavy stress on cooling systems, making temp gauge monitoring essential. The descent back toward Morzine drops continuously over 7-12% gradients, requiring low gears and engine braking to avoid burning out the brakes when sharing tight turns with oncoming vans and buses.