Col de la Colombiere: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
France, europe
30 km
1,613 m
moderate
Year-round
# Col de la Colombière
Nestled in the Haute-Savoie department of southeastern France, Col de la Colombière sits pretty at 1,613m (5,292ft) above sea level—and honestly, the views are worth every twist and turn to get there. This Alpine gem is part of the legendary Route des Grandes Alpes, so you know you're in for something special.
The fully paved D4 (Route de la Colombière) stretches a solid 30km (18.64 miles) between Le Grand-Bornand and Scionzier. Plan on spending 45 to 60 minutes driving without stops, though we'd recommend taking your time to soak it all in. Summer's your window—the pass typically opens from June through October.
Fair warning: this road doesn't mess around. You'll hit some seriously steep sections, maxing out at 13% gradient in places. If you're coming from Le Grand-Bornand, you're looking at 11.7km of climbing with 690m of elevation gain (averaging 5.9%, with peaks at 12%). The Scionzier side? That's the real deal—16.3km with 1,108m of elevation gain and an average gradient of 6.8%.
This isn't just any pass either. It's a Tour de France classic that's been testing cyclists since 1960. Once you reach the summit, you'll find a welcoming bar-restaurant, parking, a souvenir shop, and a charming little church—perfect spots to catch your breath and celebrate making it to the top.
Where is it?
Col de la Colombiere: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.3815, 2.4914
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 30 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,613 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 45.3815, 2.4914
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