
Col des Garcinets
France, europe
15.6 km
1,185 m
hard
Year-round
# Col des Garcinets: A Scenic Alpine Climb
Nestled in the Hautes-Alpes region of southeastern France, Col des Garcinets sits pretty at 1,185 meters (3,887 feet) above sea level. It's the kind of mountain pass that rewards you with incredible views—if you've got the legs for it.
The drive up is via the D1 road, a well-maintained asphalt route that connects the small towns of Selonnet to the south and Turriers to the west. Starting from D900b, you're looking at a solid 15.6 km of climbing ahead of you. The elevation gain totals 512 meters, which averages out to a 3.3% gradient—steep enough to keep things interesting, but not so brutal that you'll be white-knuckling the steering wheel the whole way.
It's a straightforward, scenic push through the alpine landscape that'll test your patience on the switchbacks but reward you with some serious French Alpine beauty once you crest the top.
Where is it?
Col des Garcinets is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 44.6732, 2.7739
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 15.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,185 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 44.6732, 2.7739
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