
Col de la Grande Forcle
France, europe
N/A
2,270 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: the Col de la Grande Forcle, a wicked-cool mountain pass chilling high in the French Alps at 2,270 meters. We're talking serious elevation here, nestled right in the Vanoise Massif, so get ready for some stunning scenery!
The road itself? It's a fun one. Think smooth asphalt...mostly. There might be a few potholes to dodge to keep things interesting and 21 hairpin bends to crank that steering wheel. It's a ski-station service road and a bit of a climb – some spots hit a 10% gradient!
Just a heads-up: winters shut this place down, so plan accordingly. Also, if unpaved roads aren't your jam, maybe skip this one. If you're up for a bit of an adventure, and it's been raining, watch out for mud. All in all, it's a gorgeous drive, sitting pretty in the northern part of Vanoise National Park.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,270 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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