
Travel Guide to Col du Plateau Rosa in the Alps
Italy, europe
12.3 km
3,088 m
hard
Year-round
# Col du Plateau Rosa
Ready for an adventure that'll test both your vehicle and your nerve? Col du Plateau Rosa sits pretty at a whopping 3,088m (10,131ft) in Italy's Aosta Valley, making it one of Europe's most extreme mountain passes.
Starting from the town of Paquier, you're looking at a 12.3 km (7.64 miles) ride that climbs 1,529m with an average gradient of 12.43% — yeah, it's steep. And here's the catch: the entire route is unpaved, so you'll absolutely need a 4x4 to even attempt this beast. This isn't a Sunday cruise; it's a serious mountain challenge.
The road winds its way up through the stunning Alps, eventually reaching Cime Bianche as it snakes toward the summit. Fair warning though — come winter, this pass becomes completely impassable, so you'll need to time your visit during the warmer months.
But hey, the views? Totally worth it. And once you reach the top, you can reward yourself at Ristorante Ventina for some well-deserved Italian hospitality. The road itself doubles as a service route for a chairlift, so you know the area takes its Alpine credentials seriously.
Where is it?
Travel Guide to Col du Plateau Rosa in the Alps is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.7603, 11.9158
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 12.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,088 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 42.7603, 11.9158
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