
Col de Muse
France, europe
N/A
932 m
hard
Year-round
# Col de Muse
Tucked away in the Drôme department of southeastern France's Rhône-Alpes region, Col de Muse is a charming mountain pass sitting at 932 meters (3,057 feet) above sea level.
The climb up to the summit follows the D202, a fully paved road that'll definitely keep you on your toes. It's pretty tight in spots, and you'll encounter some genuinely steep sections—we're talking gradients up to 8.9%—so it's not exactly a leisurely cruise. But that's part of the fun, right? It's these kinds of challenging roads that make for the most rewarding mountain drives, especially if you're into twisty alpine scenery and a little bit of an adrenaline rush.
Where is it?
Col de Muse is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.0161, 2.1319
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 932 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.0161, 2.1319
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