
How To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Le Signal in the Provence
France, europe
N/A
2,350 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, adventure junkies, because Le Signal in the French Alps is calling your name! Perched high in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, at a cool 2,350 meters (that's 7,709 feet!), this peak offers views that'll make your jaw drop.
Now, here's the thing: this isn't your Sunday drive kind of road. We're talking a rough and rugged unpaved track – a chairlift access road, actually, so leave the family sedan at home! Private vehicles aren't technically allowed.
The climb is short but intense, only about 500 meters long, but be ready for some serious gradients. We're talking ramps hitting a maximum of 19%! You'll gain 72 meters in elevation, making for an average gradient of 14.4%.
This road is nestled west of the stunning Parc National du Mercantour, so the scenery is absolutely epic. Think classic South French Alps. Just a heads up: winters here are brutal, so this road is a no-go during the snowy months. Definitely a 4x4-only situation!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,350 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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