
Col de la Cucumelle
France, europe
N/A
2,511 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Col de la Cucumelle in the Hautes-Alpes of France is calling your name. This isn't your average Sunday drive – we're talking a legit mountain pass topping out at a cool 2,511 meters (8,238 feet!).
Think rugged, think raw: the road here? It's a gravelly, rocky, bumpy roller coaster. Seriously, it's more like a chairlift access trail than a highway. Mother Nature usually shuts this bad boy down from October to June, so plan your trip accordingly.
Only seasoned off-roaders need apply. If unpaved mountain roads aren't your jam, maybe skip this one. You'll 100% need a 4x4, and a healthy dose of courage too. Expect some seriously steep sections, and those single-track traverses? They're not for the faint of heart! Huge drops and major exposure will test your nerves. But hey, the views are worth it, right?
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,511 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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