A Narrow Road to Col du Solude in the French Alps

A Narrow Road to Col du Solude in the French Alps

France, europe

Length

13.6 km

Elevation

1,680 m

Difficulty

extreme

Best Season

Year-round

# Col du Solude

Ready for an Alpine adventure that'll get your heart racing? Col du Solude is a seriously epic mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,680m (5,511ft) in the Oisans region of the French Alps, right in southeastern France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes area.

This 13.6 km (8.45 miles) north-south route—officially the D210—connects Ornon to the notoriously tricky D219 Road near Villard-Notre-Dame, and it's absolutely not for the faint of heart. The northern section is smooth asphalt, but once you hit the southern portion, things get real with gravel sections that'll test your driving skills.

What makes this pass truly legendary is its sheer intensity. We're talking nail-biting hairpin turns, narrow sections that'll make you hold your breath, and some seriously exposed drop-offs that remind you just how high up you are. The road even cranks up to a brutal 15.8% gradient at its steepest points. It's the kind of drive that demands respect, focus, and nerves of steel—but damn, it's unforgettable once you've conquered it.

This is proper "balcony road" territory, where the scenery is as dramatic as the driving conditions. If you're chasing that authentic Alpine experience and you've got the skills to back it up, Col du Solude is calling your name.

Where is it?

A Narrow Road to Col du Solude in the French Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.9101, 2.9289

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
13.6 km
Max Elevation
1,680 m
Difficulty
extreme
Coordinates
45.9101, 2.9289

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