Where is Col de la Bailletta?

Where is Col de la Bailletta?

France, europe

Length

9.4 km

Elevation

2,852 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Col de la Bailletta, nestled in the Savoie department of France, is calling your name. This beast of a mountain pass tops out at a whopping 2,852 meters (9,356 feet)!

You'll find this beauty in the Rhône-Alpes region, specifically within the Bailletaz Nature Reserve. The journey begins near Lac du Chevril, just below Val d’Isere, where you'll veer off the main D902. The road is paved at first, all the way to Lac/Barrage du Saut (one of France's highest paved roads!). But after that, things get real as the road turns to gravel.

From the D902, you're looking at a 9.4 km (5.84 miles) trek to the top. This old military road is mostly gravel and wide enough, but the higher you go, around the 2700 meter mark, the road becomes more of a hiking trail due to landslides. So, be warned: the final stretch is not suitable for vehicles. But trust me, the views are totally worth it! Just take your time and soak in the scenery. It's an experience you won't forget!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
9.4 km
Max Elevation
2,852 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in europe

Where is the bendiest road in Britain?hard

Where is the bendiest road in Britain?

🇬🇧 England

Okay, gearheads and wanderlusters, let's talk about Zig Zag Hill in Dorset, England. Seriously, this one-mile stretch of the B3081, near the charming town of Shaftesbury, is rumored to be the twistiest mile you'll find anywhere in Britain! Forget endless straights, this is like a little shot of Alpine driving right in the English countryside. They resurfaced it recently, so the surface is smooth. Don't let that fool you, though. This isn't for the faint of heart! You'll be climbing sharply (up to a 13% gradient!), snaking through hairpin after hairpin as you leave Cann Common behind. Is it worth the trip? Absolutely! Especially in autumn when the foliage is blazing with color. Just a heads up: those hairpins can be tight, steep, and slick with leaves, so keep your wits about you. But trust me, if you're craving a bit of excitement behind the wheel, Zig Zag Hill delivers.

Portal de Picoshard

Portal de Picos

🇪🇸 Spain

# Portal de Picos: Spain's Ultimate High-Altitude Adventure Ready for a serious mountain challenge? Portal de Picos sits pretty at 1,854m (6,082ft) in Cantabria's stunning Picos de Europa national park, and the journey to the summit is absolutely not for the faint of heart. This is a proper 4x4 expedition through the Central Massif. The road itself is a gloriously gnarly mix of gravel, rocks, and rutted terrain that'll test your nerve and your vehicle. Expect relentless twists, hairpins, and steep sections that keep you constantly wrestling the wheel left and right. If unpaved mountain roads make you nervous, seriously reconsider—this one demands serious driving chops. Here's the real talk: Mother Nature runs the show here. Snow typically rolls in by late September, and the road becomes impassable from October through June depending on conditions. Autumn's the real wildcard—temperatures can plummet without warning, and thunderstorms can transform the track into an impassable mess in minutes. Heights? Better get comfortable with them. But stick it out, and you'll be rewarded. The summit hosts facilities and buildings, plus you'll pass the charming Chalet Real—a historic villa that once hosted King Alfonso XIII back in 1912. Hotel Áliva marks your starting point. The views are phenomenal: sweeping ridgelines of Olvidada, Peña Vieja, and Torre de los Horcados Rojos paint the backdrop. Wildlife enthusiasts will geek out spotting wild boar, ibex, chamois, and if you're incredibly lucky, protected Iberian wolves and Cantabrian brown bears. This place is genuinely wild.

The road to Portillo de Lunada is not recommended for people afraid of heightshard

The road to Portillo de Lunada is not recommended for people afraid of heights

🇪🇸 Spain

# Portillo de Lunada: A Thrilling Mountain Adventure Want to experience a road that's been connecting Spain for nearly 2,000 years? The Portillo de Lunada is a stunning high mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,360 m (4,461 ft), straddling the border between Cantabria and Castile and León. This ancient route once guided Roman travelers from the Meseta down to Cantabria, and it's still doing the heavy lifting today. Stretching 31.5 km (19.57 miles) from Espinosa de los Monteros in the south to San Roque de Riomiera in the north, this road is definitely one for the brave-hearted. The paved route—labeled CA-643 on the Cantabria side and BU-572 in Castile and León—climbs steeply through the Cordillera Cantábrica and the beautiful Collados del Asón Natural Park. Fair warning: if heights make you queasy, this isn't your casual Sunday drive. The cliff-side sections are genuinely heart-pounding, and with gradients reaching a steep 12% in places, the local authorities have capped the speed limit at 40 km/h for good reason. The road itself is fully paved but honestly? It's seen better days. Expect plenty of potholes and rough patches that'll keep you on your toes. Rockslides are a real hazard here, so stay alert. If you're feeling extra adventurous, a closed-to-traffic minor road heads further north to Picón del Fraile at 1,590 m (5,216 ft). The pass stays open year-round, though winter snowstorms occasionally force temporary closures. It's a wild, unforgettable ride through some of Spain's most dramatic mountain scenery.

Col de la Petite Forclehard

Col de la Petite Forcle

🇫🇷 France

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Col de la Petite Forcle is a seriously epic mountain pass nestled high in the French Alps, clocking in at a lung-busting 2,481 meters (that's 8,139 feet!). You'll find it in the Savoie department, smack-dab in the stunning Vanoise National Park. Now, let's be real – this isn't your Sunday drive. The road is a ski-station service route and can be rocky, bumpy, and downright tippy in spots. Think steep, with some sections hitting a 10% grade. We're talking 4x4 recommended territory! Snow can linger well into summer, and winter? Forget about it – this place is usually snowed in from October to June. High winds are practically a given, so hold onto your hats (and your steering wheel!). If you're afraid of heights or lack off-road driving experience, maybe sit this one out. But for seasoned adventurers, the views and bragging rights are SO worth it. Just be prepared for a wild ride!