A brutal road to Col de Lauzun in the French Alps
France, europe
8 km
2,809 m
hard
Year-round
# Col de Lauzun
Picture this: you're perched nearly 2,800 meters up in the French Alps, surrounded by the rugged Massif de la Vanoise range in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Welcome to Col de Lauzun, one of France's most extreme mountain passes.
This isn't your typical alpine drive. The 8-kilometer journey from Val Thorens ski resort to Cime de Caron follows an unpaved chairlift service road that's basically only passable if you're rolling in a serious 4x4. Think narrow, rocky terrain with steep ski-piste sections that'll test your nerves—we're talking gradients hitting 30% in places. The surface is slippery and unforgiving, with brutally rough sections that demand respect and skill.
The reward? You'll be conquering one of France's highest accessible roads while traversing some genuinely stunning alpine scenery in the southeastern corner of the country. Just keep in mind this is a strictly seasonal adventure. From September through May, the pass is completely impassable, so save this one for the summer months if you're feeling adventurous enough to tackle it.
Where is it?
A brutal road to Col de Lauzun in the French Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.3665, 1.4116
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 8 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,809 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.3665, 1.4116
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