A brutal climb to Pointe du Bouchet in Savoie
France, europe
5.6 km
3,229 m
moderate
Year-round
# Pointe du Bouchet
Perched at a breathtaking 3,229 meters (10,593 feet) above sea level, Pointe du Bouchet is one of Europe's highest mountain roads, sitting pretty in the Savoie department of southeastern France. You'll find this beauty nestled within the stunning Vanoise National Park in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Here's the real deal: this isn't your typical paved highway. The road to the summit is a chairlift access route carved straight into the mountainside—completely unpaved, naturally rugged, and totally authentic. Starting from Plan-Bouchet, you're looking at a challenging 5.6 km (3.47 miles) climb with a serious 818-meter elevation gain. That translates to an average gradient of 14.60%, so yeah, it's steep. Pack your mountain driving skills.
Winter? Forget about it. This route is completely blocked by heavy snow for months on end, making it a serious seasonal affair. But during the warmer months, it offers an unforgettable Alpine adventure through some of the most dramatic scenery the Massif de la Vanoise has to offer. If you're chasing that true high-altitude mountain experience—literally and figuratively—this is your road.
Where is it?
A brutal climb to Pointe du Bouchet in Savoie is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 47.0687, 2.0688
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 5.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,229 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 47.0687, 2.0688
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