Col de Fours

Col de Fours

France, europe

Length

3.6 km

Elevation

2,318 m

Difficulty

extreme

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventurers, buckle up for Col de Fours! This stunner sits way up in the French Alps, practically winking at Italy from its perch at 2,318 meters (7,604 feet). You'll find it nestled in the Ubaye valley, in the northern reaches of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Now, this isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking rocky, gravelly terrain—basically a chairlift access trail. As you climb, the landscape gets wilder and the slope gets seriously steep. Think loose stones giving way to an even steeper, rockier upper section.

Starting from Le Super-Sauze, you've got 3.6 km to conquer, packed with a whopping 607 meters of climbing. That's an average gradient of nearly 17%! This trek is only doable during a tiny window in summer. Be warned: the wind here is no joke—it’s pretty much a permanent fixture. But keep your eyes peeled! You might just spot marmots, chamois, and ibex hanging out along the way. Oh, and did I mention there's an old chairlift from 1971? This place is epic!

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
3.6 km
Max Elevation
2,318 m
Difficulty
extreme

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