Col de Portet: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

# Col de Portet

Nestled high in the Pyrenees at 2,215 meters (7,267 feet), Col de Portet sits just west of Saint-Lary-Soulan in France's Hautes-Pyrénées, practically within spitting distance of the Spanish border. This isn't your average mountain pass—it's one of the Pyrenees' most formidable challenges.

The road itself is a spectacle carved directly into the mountainside. After getting fully paved in 2018, it's become an even more thrilling (if technically smoother) ride. But don't let that fool you—this 8-kilometer ascent packs serious punch. You'll navigate 14 hairpin turns through sections so narrow they'll make your palms sweat, with stretches hitting a brutal 16.3% gradient. The climb gains 655 meters of elevation at an average of 8.18%, and honestly? You can see almost the entire route from the bottom, which just makes it feel even more intimidating.

The vistas start kicking in almost immediately and never stop. The driving is genuinely challenging—this is legitimately one of the toughest climbs in the range, and it sits even higher than the famous Col du Tourmalet. It's earned its stripes in the Tour de France, and for good reason.

Summer is your window: the road opens from June through October, though winter completely shuts it down. Fair warning—during summer daylight hours (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.), the road closes to most traffic except locals, so plan accordingly. When you finally reach the summit, that 360-degree panorama of the surrounding peaks is absolutely worth every hard-earned meter. Just be prepared—this climb might be enough to take it easy for the rest of your day.