
Where is Col du Granon?
France, europe
10.5 km
2,413 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the French Alps, headed for Col du Granon. This beast of a pass sits way up high in the Hautes-Alpes, near Briançon. We're talking serious altitude – 2,413 meters (that's 7,916 feet!).
The road, D234T, is paved, but don't think it's gonna be easy. It's narrow, super curvy, and seriously steep. Think switchbacks and signs every kilometer showing you just how much you're climbing. And get this – the south side is paved, but the other side turns into a dirt track! Gravel bike, anyone? It's way less crowded than other famous passes around here, which is a huge plus.
From Saint-Chaffrey, the climb is about 10.5 km (6.5 miles), gaining nearly a kilometer in elevation. The average gradient is around 9%, but hold on tight, because you'll hit ramps as steep as 16%! This climb is so epic, it's been featured in the Tour de France.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! At the top, you'll find a bar/restaurant (perfect for a celebratory drink!), some old military buildings, and a big parking area. Plus, it’s a launching point for some amazing hikes and views that will absolutely blow your mind. Get ready for some serious bragging rights after conquering this one!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 10.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,413 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
hardMagnetköpfl
🇦🇹 Austria
# Magnetköpfl: A High-Alpine Adventure Perched at 2,690m (8,825ft) in the Austrian Alps southwest of Salzburg, Magnetköpfl is a stunning alpine destination that demands serious respect. The route to the summit is no leisurely Sunday drive—it's a chairlift access trail that'll test your nerves and your vehicle. The path itself is rocky and gravelly, with a slope that doesn't mess around. We're talking steep grades here, with some sections hitting 30% incline. The upper stretches get even more dramatic, featuring loose stones and technical rocky terrain that'll keep you focused. This is basically a ski-station service road, so you're following the same routes the mountain crew uses. Here's the catch: you've got a narrow window to attempt this—basically late August is your sweet spot during summer. The wind up here is relentless year-round, and even in summer you might wake up to snow. Winter? Brutally cold temps make this a no-go for most travelers. The reward for your efforts? Incredible panoramic views stretching to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. It's the kind of scenery that makes the white-knuckle drive completely worth it. **Starting Point:** Bergstation Grubenkopfbahn This is genuinely one for adventurous drivers who respect the mountain and come prepared for serious alpine conditions.
hardThe abandoned Tunnel du Mortier in France
🇫🇷 France
# Tunnel du Mortier: France's Haunting Mountain Passage Tucked away in the Isère department of southeastern France, the Tunnel du Mortier sits at a dramatic 1,370 meters (4,494 feet) in the heart of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This quirky piece of mountain infrastructure has quite the backstory. Originally built back in 1911, the tunnel got a major makeover in 1968 for the Grenoble Winter Olympics. A plaque at the north entrance commemorates the upgrade, which was officially inaugurated on September 30th by Louis Verger. But here's where things get interesting: the road didn't last much longer. In April 1992, a massive rockfall—roughly 20,000 cubic meters of rock—came crashing down just below the summit of the Buffe, destroying the access road and making the whole situation dangerously unstable. The kicker? This happened just a kilometer from another epic collapse in 1971 (50,000 cubic meters). Given the road's limited importance and the ongoing threat of more slides, authorities threw in the towel and closed it for good. These days, the two-lane tunnel (all 500 meters of it) sees hikers and mountain bikers instead of cars. The first 100 meters are straightforward, but the middle section gets seriously dark—bring a light. The smooth interior is blessedly obstacle-free, though you'll spot a few rocks toward the Isère end where daylight returns. The approach road, D218, is paved but narrow with brutal gradients hitting 12% on some sections. The southeastern side is still drivable up to the tunnel, but the northwestern side has completely collapsed. Beyond the tunnel, a massive rockslide blocks any further progress, though adventurous souls with proper caution can cross it to descend into the Vercors. A forest track was briefly developed in 2017, but a landslide during winter 2021-2022 shut that down too. Mother Nature clearly has the final say here.
easyCol du Pourtalet: A Scenic Mountain Pass at the France-Spain Border
🇫🇷 France
# Col du Pourtalet Ready to tackle one of the Pyrenees' most scenic mountain passes? Col du Pourtalet sits pretty at 1,798 meters (5,898 feet) right on the France-Spain border, and it's absolutely worth the drive. You'll get stunning views of the Ossau Valley that'll make you forget all about the elevation gain. This 54.4-km route connects the French town of Laruns with Biescas in Spain, passing through the edge of Parc National des Pyrénées. You can even spot the old border post that marks this international crossing—a cool reminder of days gone by. The road splits into two very different personalities depending on which side you're coming from. From Spain's side (the A-136 road), it's a smooth, wide, well-maintained climb from Biescas—29 km with a mellow 3.1% average grade. This stretch was literally built to handle ski coach traffic in winter, so expect decent road quality and steady traffic, especially on weekends and during summer holidays. The French approach (D934 from Laruns) tells a different story. This 29-km side has more character, with three steeper "ramps" hitting around 7% gradients separated by easier stretches that hover around 5%. You'll wind through dramatic gorges, pastoral high-mountain meadows, and charming Pyrenean villages. It's not as heavily trafficked, which means you can actually soak in the scenery—just watch for one brief steep kick near a dam. At the summit? Absolutely worth it. You're greeted with unobstructed views of Pic du Midi d'Ossau and the Cirque d'Anéou, where sheep and cattle graze peacefully. Grab some food or a drink at the cafés and restaurants up top before heading back down. The pass is famous for appearing in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, where riders battle gradients reaching 8.8% on the steepest sections. Winter closures can happen during heavy snowfall, but otherwise it stays open year-round.
hardWhere is Rikoti Pass?
🇬🇪 Georgia
Okay, buckle up, road trippers! Rikotskiy Pass, perched high in eastern Georgia, is a wild ride! This beauty straddles the border between two regions and marks the divide between eastern and western Georgia. We're talking serious elevation here! The road is fully paved, though get ready for some steep climbs - a maximum gradient, so be prepared for some shifting! The entire route stretches for a good length winding through the southern part of the Greater Caucasus mountains. And trust me, the scenery is worth every white-knuckle moment! Expect views that will leave you breathless. So here's the deal: this route used to be *the* way to get from Tbilisi to Kutaisi. But it became notorious for being a tough drive, so they built a tunnel in 1982 to make life easier (that tunnel is pretty long!). The original Rikotskiy Pass road is still around, though, offering a more adventurous option if you're feeling up to it.