Col du Buis
France, europe
4 km
1,196 m
hard
Year-round
# Col du Buis: A Thrilling Alpine Challenge
Nestled in the Alpes-Maritimes of southeastern France, Col du Buis sits at a brisk 1,196 meters (3,923 feet) above sea level. This mountain pass is definitely not for the faint of heart—the road here, designated D2211, is steep, narrow, and sometimes downright gnarly, with grades that can hit a jaw-dropping 19%. The asphalt is decent enough, but don't expect pristine conditions.
The pass connects Briançonnet to the southwest with Vernières to the north, and you've got options for getting up there. Want the easy warm-up? Start from Alpes de Haute-Provence with just 4 km of climbing and 189 meters of elevation gain (4.7% average grade, topping out at 16%). Looking for a proper workout? The Entrevaux route is your answer—13.4 km and 681 meters of elevation gain at a steady 5.1% average.
If you're looking for something in between, Pont de St. Pierre offers a reasonable 7.5 km push with 296 meters of gain (3.9% average). And then there's La Serre (ponte), the sneaky tough one—only 4 km, but it's relentless, with a punishing 10.3% average gradient and 411 meters of vertical.
This is a pass for riders and drivers who love a challenge and don't mind some technical hairpins with minimal margin for error.
Where is it?
Col du Buis is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.2958, 1.3732
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,196 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.2958, 1.3732
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