Where is Col de Salèse?
France, europe
4.3 km
1,663 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the French Maritime Alps, not far from Italy, smack-dab in the Mercantour National Park. You're headed for the Col de Salèse, a mountain pass that tops out at a cool 2,036 meters (that's 6,679 feet for my imperial system friends!).
The route? It's a tale of two roads, really. You start on the M89 from Mollières, a smooth, paved road that winds its way up to the Parking de Salèse at 1,663 meters. So far, so good, right?
But here's where it gets interesting. Past the parking lot, the pavement ends, and the fun REALLY begins. For the last 4.3 kilometers (2.67 miles) to the summit, it's unpaved and closed to private vehicles. And trust me, it's a climb! This part of the road is a real challenge. It's steep, with gradients hitting nearly 12% in places. Oh, and pro tip: don't even THINK about trying this between November and March—it's usually snowed in. But if you can tackle it, the views are incredible!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 4.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,663 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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