
An awe-inspiring drive to Col d'Ornon
France, europe
14.42 km
1,360 m
moderate
Year-round
Col d'Ornon is a mountain pass nestled in the Dauphiné Alps in Isère, France, sitting pretty at 1,360m (4,462ft) above sea level. If you're looking for a solid climb that won't absolutely destroy your legs, this is it.
The D526 road connects Le Bourg-d'Oisans and La Mure with completely paved asphalt the whole way. What makes this pass special? It's genuinely chill—the grades never get punchy, you've got stunning high mountains surrounding you on all sides, and the road surface is genuinely decent. It's the kind of ride that feels epic without being brutal.
This isn't some unknown hidden gem either. The pass has earned its stripes as a Tour de France feature, so you know it's legit.
You've got two main entry points to choose from. If you're starting from Entraigues, you're looking at 14.42km of climbing with 563m of elevation gain, averaging out to a mellow 3.9%. Coming from La Paute is a bit spicier—11.11km with 643m of gain at 5.8% average—more compact but definitely punchier. Either way, it's a fantastic day on the bike with some serious scenery.
Where is it?
An awe-inspiring drive to Col d'Ornon is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.5798, 3.9550
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 14.42 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,360 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 46.5798, 3.9550
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