
Where is Col de la Colombière?
France, europe
30 km
1,613 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the French Alps on the Route des Grandes Alpes, specifically tackling the Col de la Colombière. This beauty sits pretty high up in the Haute-Savoie department, at 1,613m (5,292ft). You'll find it in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, southeast France.
The road itself? Pure driving bliss on the D4 (Route de la Colombière), all paved and ready for you! It's about 30km (18.64 miles) of winding goodness, connecting Le Grand-Bornand and Scionzier. Keep in mind, this alpine pass is usually open from June to October, weather permitting.
If you drive straight through, you're looking at 45-60 minutes of pure joy. Once you're at the top, you’ll find a bar-restaurant, parking, a souvenir shop, and even a cute little church. Perfect for a pit stop!
Now, heads up, this climb isn't for the faint of heart. Some sections get seriously steep, hitting gradients of up to 13%! This col is a Tour de France regular, so you know it's got some challenging climbs.
If you're coming from Le Grand Bornand, get ready for an 11.7 km climb with a 690-meter elevation gain, averaging 5.9% with a max of 12%. Starting in Scionzier? Buckle up for a 16.3 km ascent, gaining 1,108 meters, averaging 6.8%, also with a max slope of 12%. Get ready for stunning views and bragging rights!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 30 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,613 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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