An epic road to Selle Vecchie Pass in the Alps

An epic road to Selle Vecchie Pass in the Alps

France, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

2,099 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

# Colle delle Selle Vecchie: A High-Alpine Adventure

Perched at a seriously impressive 2,099 meters (6,886 feet), Colle delle Selle Vecchie sits pretty right on the French-Italian border within the stunning Mercantour National Park. This is the real deal—a proper mountain pass that demands respect.

Here's the thing: the entire road is unpaved, and we're not talking about a smooth gravel track. This isn't a route for inexperienced drivers, so honestly, if you're just learning the ropes, save this one for later. You'll want a 4x4 vehicle (seriously, not optional), and you can realistically only tackle this between late spring and early autumn when conditions cooperate. Nighttime driving? Absolutely not recommended. And if heights make you queasy, just keep your gaze straight ahead and try not to think too hard about what's below.

The pass connects Italy's Province of Cuneo in Piedmont with the Alpes-Maritimes in southeastern France, making it a proper border-crossing adventure for those brave enough to attempt it.

The scenery alone makes this bucket-list worthy for hardcore road-trippers, but always—and we mean always—check current conditions before you go. Mountain passes can change quickly, and you'll want the latest intel on accessibility and road status.

Where is it?

An epic road to Selle Vecchie Pass in the Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.1259, 2.3019

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Max Elevation
2,099 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
46.1259, 2.3019

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