The Wild Road to Col du Jandri in the French Alps

# Col du Jandri: One of Europe's Most Epic Alpine Climbs

Want to tackle one of the highest drivable roads in Europe? Welcome to Col du Jandri, sitting pretty at a breathtaking 3,165 meters (10,383 feet) in the French Alps. This beast of a peak dominates the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, tucked deep in the stunning Ecrins massif.

The route here is the R1-2 trail, a service road that was originally built to support the ski lifts and cable cars at Les Deux Alpes ski station. What started as pure utility has become a serious bucket-list challenge for cyclists and adventurous drivers alike. Fair warning: this isn't your typical smooth cruise. The road features seriously steep ramps that'll test your mettle, and yes, you'll see everything from mountain bikes to heavy vehicles grinding their way up.

Starting from Le Bourg-d'Oisans, you're looking at a 26.9-kilometer (16.71-mile) beast of an ascent. You'll gain 2,458 meters of elevation with an average gradient of 9.1% — but don't get comfortable, because the steepest sections hit a brutal 16%. The first portion is paved up to about 1,730 meters, then the surface transitions to gravel. The upper sections get rocky, dusty, and relentlessly steep, demanding serious gears and serious stamina.

Along the way, you'll pass Col des Gourses at 2,565 meters before making the final push. The payoff? Incredible views of Glacier de Mont-de-Lans and a summit restaurant with panoramic vistas that make every sweat drop worthwhile. Summer is the best time to attempt it, when the road is typically passable. This is alpine climbing at its finest.