Pas de l'Âne: Driving the brutal 17.4% ski track in the Massif des Cerces

# Pas de l'Âne: Not Your Average Mountain Drive

Tucked away in the Hautes-Alpes of southeastern France, Pas de l'Âne is a wild high-altitude adventure sitting at 2,475m (8,120ft) in the dramatic Massif des Cerces. This isn't your typical scenic mountain pass—it's a legitimately gnarly chairlift maintenance track carved into the limestone cliffs above Le Monêtier-les-Bains, serving the ski infrastructure of Serre Chevalier valley.

Perched at coordinates 44.94263, 6.49144, this beast of a route dominates the landscape with jaw-dropping views of Ecrins National Park. But honestly? You won't have much time to soak in the scenery—you'll be too focused on the narrow single track hugging those steep ridges.

Fair warning: there's not a shred of pavement up here. The whole thing is loose gravel and dirt, designed for heavy maintenance vehicles, not your average road tripper. We're talking no safety barriers, sketchy hairpins, and drops that'll make your palms sweat. You'll absolutely need a serious high-clearance 4x4 with low-range gearing to even attempt this.

Just 5.5 km (3.4 miles) from start to finish, but don't let that fool you—you're climbing nearly 1,000 meters of elevation, which means a relentless 17.4% average gradient. That's some of the steepest stuff in the French Alps. There are virtually zero flat sections, so your brakes and transmission are getting a serious workout the entire way.

Timing matters here. The road is completely buried under meters of snow most of the year, only opening up from late June through September for 4x4s brave enough to try. Even in summer, a sudden alpine storm can turn that dirt track into a mudslide in minutes. Always check the weather before attempting this one.