Where is Col du Lautaret?
France, europe
96.5 km
2,060 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the French Alps on the D1091, smack-dab in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. You're headed for Col du Lautaret, a mountain pass sitting pretty at 2,060m (6,758ft). This baby's part of the famous Route des Grandes Alpes, so you *know* it's gonna be epic.
Nestled in the Dauphiné Alps, it divides the Romanche and Guisane valleys, offering killer views of La Meije, Grand Galibier, and the Massif des Ecrins. The road itself is completely paved, stretching 96.5 km (almost 60 miles) from Vizille to Briançon. Heads up, the western side has a bunch of tunnels, some crazy long at 800 meters!
Now, Col du Lautaret's close neighbor, Col du Galibier, often steals the spotlight, sitting only 8km north via the D902. But trust me, Lautaret is a climb in its own right. If you're coming from Briançon, you're looking at a 27.75km climb with an 853-meter elevation gain, averaging about 3.1%. Starting near Le Bourg-d'Oisans? Get ready for a 34.16km haul, climbing 1,312 meters with a 3.8% average grade. No wonder it's a Tour de France regular!
Good news: this pass is usually open year-round – they started building the road in 1880 and finished with a tunnel in 1891, so it's been well-traveled! Just keep an eye out for winter weather. They say it’s the highest pass in France that stays open all year, so pile on the layers and hit the road! And don't forget to stop at the top for food, drinks, and a well-deserved rest.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 96.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,060 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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