
Col des Posettes: a wild unpaved road to the summit
France, europe
N/A
1,997 m
hard
Year-round
# Col des Posettes
Perched at 1,997 meters (6,551 feet) in Haute-Savoie's stunning Rhône-Alpes region, Col des Posettes is a serious Alpine adventure waiting to happen. Just heads up though—this isn't your typical paved mountain pass.
The road up? It's a gravel service track that basically follows the ski lift, and it's *steep* and narrow. Think white-knuckle tight in places. Winter? Forget about it—this route becomes completely impassable when the snow flies, so save this one for warmer months.
But here's where it gets really cool: if you're up for more exploration, there's an incredible rideable path leading up to Col de Balme (2,204 meters), right where France and Switzerland shake hands. You can actually spot the border marker—a charming stone alpine restaurant sits right in the middle of the col. It's the kind of spot where you can literally stand with one foot in each country while grabbing a well-deserved meal.
This is proper high-altitude terrain with some serious Alpine scenery, so come prepared and respect the elements. The views? Absolutely worth the effort.
Where is it?
Col des Posettes: a wild unpaved road to the summit is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.7373, 2.0224
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 1,997 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.7373, 2.0224
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