A wild military road to Vallon de Savine

A wild military road to Vallon de Savine

France, europe

Length

2.2 km

Elevation

2,227 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, fellow adventurers, let me tell you about Vallon de Savine! Tucked away in the northern Cottian Alps, in the Savoie department of France, this mountain peak sits pretty at 2,227 meters (that's 7,306 feet!).

The road up? Well, it's an unpaved beauty, a 2.2 km climb from Col du Petit Mont-Cenis. Word to the wise: you'll probably need a 4x4 to tackle this gravel path, and aim for a summer trip – it's usually snowed in from October to June. This route is actually an old military road – this area is full of them dating back to World War I. Once you reach the top, you'll be greeted by some cool, abandoned buildings and views for days! Definitely one for the bucket list if you're into rugged alpine exploration!

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
2.2 km
Max Elevation
2,227 m
Difficulty
moderate

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