Where is la Petite Clue?

Where is la Petite Clue?

France, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

458 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: the Passage de la Petite Clue, a super short and sweet mountain road tucked away in the Alpes-Maritimes region of France. We're talking Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur vibes, inside the stunning Mercantour National Park. Seriously, the River Cians carved this insane gorge with ridiculously red rock – it’s a photographer's dream!

So, this little gem is only about 1,500 feet long. It used to be part of the old D-28, and you'll find the entrance near a parking area right before a tunnel. Paved, yes, but hold up – it's crazy narrow. Two cars passing? Forget about it. But hey, that just means you can really soak in the views: think colorful rock formations, a babbling stream with cute waterfalls, and nature doing its artistic thing.

Now, the catch: this road is officially closed. Like, permanently. Why? Well, it's narrow, a bit sketchy, and Mother Nature throws tantrums with landslides and rockfalls. You'll probably see some fallen rocks along the way. The Tunnel de la Petite Clue bypasses it all, so if you want to drive through this area, take the tunnel. However, if you park and walk this section, the scenery is worth it.

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Max Elevation
458 m
Difficulty
hard

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