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
Related Roads in europe
moderateIs Col d'Agnes paved?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, so you're cruising through the French Pyrenees, right? You absolutely HAVE to hit Col d'Agnes. This beauty sits at 1,573m (that's 5,160ft for us imperial system folks) and is nestled in the Ariège department. The D8F road (part of the Route des Cols des Pyrénées) is totally paved, so no need for a monster truck! Speaking of cruising, get ready for a bit of a workout – some sections get up to an 11% gradient! This climb is a leg-burner, trust me, it has even been featured in the Tour de France. You can usually access the pass year-round, but keep an eye out for those winter closures after a heavy snowfall. The whole shebang is about 15km (9.32 miles) long, winding from Aulus-les-Bains to the D18 Road. And just a heads up, about 4km (2.5 miles) from the top, you'll see the junction for Col de Mahourat, if you fancy adding another climb to your day. The views from up here are seriously epic, so keep your camera handy!
hardLaghi delle Cime Bianche
🇮🇹 Italy
# Laghi delle Cime Bianche: Italy's Sky-High Alpine Adventure Ready for one of the most exhilarating mountain experiences in Italy? Laghi delle Cime Bianche sits pretty at a jaw-dropping 2,885 meters (9,465 feet) in Breuil-Cervinia, an upscale alpine resort tucked into the Valle d'Aosta region in northwest Italy's Pennine Alps. Here's the thing: this legendary route got closed to regular vehicle traffic back in 2009, but cyclists can still make the summit push via this chairlift access trail. It's basically one of Italy's highest accessible roads, period. The real kicker? You've got a super narrow window to tackle this beast—basically just late August if conditions cooperate. And "cooperate" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. The weather is notoriously moody and can flip from gorgeous sunshine to heavy snow in what feels like minutes. When you do go, expect relentless steepness with sections hitting up to 30%, plus loose, rocky terrain that gets progressively gnarlier as you climb. But here's why it's worth the challenge: the scenery is absolutely bonkers. You'll catch stunning views of Gran Tournalin, Monte Roisetta, and Rocca di Veraz framed against that dramatic alpine backdrop. This is peak Italian mountain drama—literally and figuratively.
hardBorcola Pass
🇮🇹 Italy
# Passo della Borcola: A Thrilling Alpine Climb Want to test your driving skills? Passo della Borcola, perched at 1,207 meters, sits right on the border between Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Veneto in northeastern Italy—a stunning location that rewards every twist and turn. The fully paved road (SP138 and SP81) is no joke: it's steep with tight sections and throws 19 hairpin turns at you to keep things interesting. If you're starting from Posina, you're looking at a 9.67 km push uphill with 650 meters of elevation gain—that's an average gradient of 6.7%, so your car will definitely feel it. Coming from Castello di Rovereto? Buckle up for the longer route: 22.23 km with 987 meters of elevation gain, though the gentler 4.4% average gradient makes it a bit more forgiving. Either way, this is classic Alpine driving—challenging enough to get your adrenaline pumping, but totally doable in a regular vehicle. The scenery alone makes the effort worth it, and those hairpins offer plenty of opportunities to catch your breath and snap some photos.
hardElisabetta Refuge
🇮🇹 Italy
# Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini Montanaro Tucked away in Italy's Aosta Valley at a seriously impressive 2,195m elevation, this alpine refuge is a hidden gem for adventurous drivers. The journey to get here is half the fun—and trust me, you'll earn those mountain views. Starting from the charming town of Courmayeur, you'll kick off on the paved strada della Val Veny, which immediately tests your nerve with some steep pitches. It's scenic enough to distract you from the white-knuckle moments, but don't get too comfortable—after a few kilometres, you'll hit La Visaille, where cars have to call it quits and hikers take over. Keep pushing upward on pavement toward Lago Combal, then brace yourself. The road transitions to gravel, and this is where it gets real. This route dates back to the 1700s when it was built for military purposes, and those incredible hairpin turns are proof of its historic ambition. The surface is legitimately gnarly: oversized rocks, tricky loose gravel, and plenty of washboard bumps that'll keep you focused. It's not for timid drivers, but that's exactly what makes it unforgettable. If you're up for the challenge, the payoff is alpine excellence.