The Road to Col de Chaviere is Not for the Faint of Heart
France, europe
7.4 km
2,477 m
hard
Year-round
# Col de Chavière
Tucked away in the heart of France's stunning Vanoise National Park, Col de Chavière rises to a impressive 2,477m (8,126ft) in the Savoie department. This alpine treasure sits in the southeastern Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, surrounded by some serious mountain scenery.
The highlight? The Refuge de Peclet Polset perched at the summit, sitting right near Lac Blanc—a gorgeous glacial-fed lake with that distinctive milky-white color that only glacial meltwater can create.
Fair warning: this isn't your typical mountain drive. The route is entirely unpaved and seriously narrow, with hefty rocks scattered throughout. Private vehicles aren't allowed, so you'll need to be on foot or bike for this adventure.
Starting from a parking area at the end of the paved D124 road, you're looking at a 7.4km (4.59 miles) climb with an elevation gain of 703 meters—that's roughly a 9.5% average grade. Steep? Absolutely. But the payoff is incredible.
Just keep in mind that the Massif de la Vanoise range locks this road down from October through June, so plan your visit for the warmer months when the route's actually passable.
Where is it?
The Road to Col de Chaviere is Not for the Faint of Heart is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.4127, 3.3032
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,477 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.4127, 3.3032
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