Road trip guide: Conquering the Pas de Bellecombe
France, europe
22.6 km
2,361 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're on Réunion Island, ready for an epic adventure to Pas de Bellecombe, a mountain pass sitting pretty at 2,361m.
The road you'll be cruising is Route Forestière 5 du Volcan, aka Volcano Road. It's paved, but hold on tight – it's a steep climb! Pro-tip: sun protection is a must. The lava reflects like crazy, so you'll want sunscreen and a hat, even if it seems clear. And be prepared for the weather to change on a dime; fog can roll in fast. Give yourself plenty of time to be safe!
The road stretches for 22.6 km, climbing 743m. That’s an average gradient of 3.28%. When you get to the top, there's a parking lot and even a snack bar! The view over the northeast part of the caldera is incredible. Just a heads up, the final stretch is on a decent gravel road, so be ready for that.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 22.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,361 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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