The serpentines up through Montvernier from Pontmafrey (498m) are fantastic. This is the way to climb this pass if you only go here once. Another nice alternative would be to start in Hermillon (523m), not far from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, and climb via Col du Ventour (780m) and Le Villaret d’en Bas (720m) up the same way from Montvernier to the pass.

The other side of the pass used to be gravel road until Bonvillard (or most of the stretch), but it has been asphalted since I was there back in 2002. From La Chambre (west) (435m) or La Chambre (east) (448m) it is afairly hard climb too, but less interesting, but could be an alternative if coming down the Col de la Madeleine (1993m), but uou almost have to descend all the way to La Chambre before the long climb up to Col du Chaussy.