The wild road to Col du Granon in the French Alps
France, europe
10.5 km
2,413 m
hard
Year-round
# Col du Granon
Perched at a breathtaking 2,413 meters (7,916 feet) in the Hautes-Alpes region of southeastern France, Col du Granon is a hidden gem tucked into the French Alps—just north of Briançon, France's highest city.
The D234T road climbing to the summit is a fully paved roller coaster of switchbacks and steep pitches on the south side (though the north side transforms into a gnarly dirt track if you're feeling adventurous on a gravel or mountain bike). What makes Granon special? It's genuinely quieter than its famous neighboring passes, giving you a more intimate Alpine experience.
Starting from Saint-Chaffrey, you're looking at a 10.5 km (6.5-mile) slog that climbs 975 meters with an average gradient of 9.28%—but don't be fooled by that average. The road gets absolutely brutal in sections, hitting a whopping 15.9% gradient that'll test your legs (or your car's transmission). Helpful kilometer markers display the gradient percentage as you climb, so you know exactly what's coming.
This pass has serious pedigree: it hosted the Tour de France in 1986 as the highest summit finish of a stage—a record that stood for 25 years until Col du Galibier took over. At the top, you'll find the Buvette Du Granon bar-restaurant, a parking lot, and some fascinating military remnants. From here, you can branch out to Col de Barteaux, Col de Cibières, or Porte de Cristol for even more Alpine exploration.
Where is it?
The wild road to Col du Granon in the French Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.6676, 1.5192
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 10.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,413 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 45.6676, 1.5192
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