Where is Les Ecouges?
France, europe
20.4 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Les Ecouges, nestled in the Isère department of France, is a wild ride you won't soon forget. Think you're good with heights? This road will test you! Located west of Grenoble in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, this beauty, also known as route départementale 35 (RD 35), snakes for 20.4 km (12.67 miles) from Rovon to Rencurel.
The highlight? The Route des Ecouges, which blasts through an impressive 500m tunnel at Pont Chabert. Pop out the other side, and bam! You're suspended above a waterfall before plunging down to the Isère Valley. This windy road, first built way back in 1833, zigzags up to Rencurel and then across mountain pastures toward the Col de Romeyère.
Seriously, though, this road isn't for the faint of heart. It's one of the most vertiginous routes into Le Vercors, hugging the contours of the landscape. It's a slow cruise designed to let you soak in the Ecouges massif and the Vercors. Expect twisty sections, tunnels, and glimpses of grazing animals in the meadows. Note: it's often closed in winter due to snow. Large vehicles, like trucks and lorries, aren't allowed, but most other vehicles are good to go. Just take it slow, and enjoy the scenery!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 20.4 km
- Difficulty
- hard
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