Travel guide to the top of Col des Ves
France, europe
6.4 km
2,793 m
hard
Year-round
# Col des Ves
Nestled in the Savoie department of southeastern France, Col des Ves sits pretty at a jaw-dropping 2,793 meters (9,163 feet) above sea level. You'll find this alpine gem tucked within the stunning Vanoise National Park, part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Here's the thing: this isn't your typical paved highway. The road to the summit is completely unpaved and primarily serves as a maintenance route for the ski lifts and lodges dotting the peaks. It's legitimately one of France's highest accessible roads—pretty cool bragging rights, right?
Don't expect an easy cruise. Starting from Val Claret, you're looking at a 6.4-kilometer (3.97-mile) climb that's seriously steep. You'll gain 671 meters of elevation over that distance, which translates to an average gradient of 10.48%. Your legs (and your car) will definitely feel it.
Perched high in the Massif de la Vanoise within the French Alps, this road is absolutely off-limits come winter—conditions make it completely impassable. Plus, expect relentless winds that'll keep things interesting. This is pure alpine adventure territory, but definitely best tackled during the summer months when conditions are actually manageable.
Where is it?
Travel guide to the top of Col des Ves is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.4275, 2.3478
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 6.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,793 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.4275, 2.3478
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