
Discovering the narrow steep road to Col du Sabot in France
France, europe
10.2 km
2,100 m
extreme
Year-round
# Col du Sabot
Tucked away in the Isère département of southeastern France, Col du Sabot sits pretty at 2,100m (6,889ft) in the heart of the Central French Alps. This pass is part of the stunning Oisans region, just beyond the famous Alpe d'Huez.
The adventure kicks off from Vaujany, a charming ski station, and winds upward for 10.2 km (6.33 miles) through gorgeous alpine pastures. Fair warning: this climb doesn't mess around. You'll encounter some seriously steep stretches with gradients hitting 15.6% at their gnarliest.
What you're dealing with is a narrow, single-lane tarmac road that's seen better days, complete with 17 hairpin turns and some pretty vertiginous drop-offs. The asphalt is a bit worn and patchy, with occasional gravel and loose stones adding to the challenge—especially on the way down. Keep your wits about you and take it slow.
The reward? A small parking lot at the top and a quick 100-meter walk that opens up to spectacular views of the Croix de Fer reservoir. Traffic is typically light, so you'll have the road mostly to yourself to soak in the Alpine scenery. It's demanding, it's technical, but it's absolutely worth the effort if you're up for a proper mountain driving experience.
Where is it?
Discovering the narrow steep road to Col du Sabot in France is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.7826, 2.7078
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 10.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,100 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 45.7826, 2.7078
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