
Where is Aiguille de Péclet?
France, europe
10.3 km
2,951 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in the Savoie department of France, you'll find the Aiguille de Péclet, a seriously high peak clocking in at 2,951m (9,681ft). We're talking one of the highest drives in Europe here!
Nestled at the base of the Péclet Glacier in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, this stunner is inside Vanoise National Park. Heads up, though: the 10.3 km (6.4 miles) road to the summit isn't paved, and you'll need a 4x4 to tackle it. Oh, and private vehicles aren't allowed—chairlift is the way to go!
Starting from the D117 road, you'll climb 702 meters, making for a pretty consistent 6.81% gradient. But trust me, the views are worth every bump and grind. Just a heads-up: this road is a no-go from October to June due to major snowfall. But when it's open? Prepare for some seriously epic mountain scenery! And when you get to the top, grab a bite at Les Aiguilles de Péclet. You've earned it!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 10.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,951 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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