Driving an Iconic Alpine Road with Hundreds of Turns to Col des Champs
France, europe
27.7 km
2,092 m
hard
Year-round
# Col des Champs: A Wild Alpine Adventure
Buckle up for Col des Champs, a stunning 2,092-meter (6,863-foot) mountain pass tucked away in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Straddling the border between Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes, this gem sits right within the breathtaking Mercantour National Park.
The 27.7-kilometer route connecting Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes to Colmars is fully paved—but don't expect a smooth cruise. The D78 from the south and Route Départementale 2 from the north are famous for their relentless hairpin turns and gloriously bumpy surface that'll keep you on your toes. Seriously, this road is basically all curves, with some sections tilting up to a punishing 12% gradient.
Coming from Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes, you're looking at a 16.26-kilometer push uphill with 1,052 meters of elevation gain (averaging 6.5% gradient). The northern approach from Colmars is slightly shorter at 12 kilometers but steeper, climbing 842 meters at an average of 7%.
The good news? This beauty stays open year-round, though winter weather occasionally forces temporary closures. If you're craving high-altitude Alpine scenery with a technical driving challenge that'll make your knuckles white, Col des Champs delivers in spades.
Where is it?
Driving an Iconic Alpine Road with Hundreds of Turns to Col des Champs is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 47.2176, 3.3693
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 27.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,092 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 47.2176, 3.3693
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