A brutal unpaved road to Col des Pres
France, europe
6 km
2,652 m
moderate
Year-round
# Col des Prés
Ready for a proper alpine adventure? Col des Prés sits pretty at 2,652m (8,700ft) in France's Savoie department—making it one seriously high mountain pass. You'll find it nestled in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France, just a stone's throw from the Italian border and west of the impressive Rocher du Charvet peak.
Here's the thing: this isn't your typical paved mountain road. The entire route is completely unpaved, and frankly, it's built as a chairlift access trail for the Val d'Isère ski resort. You'll need a proper 4x4 to even attempt it. The drive from Val-d'Isère to the summit is only 6km (3.72 miles), but those are six seriously rugged kilometers.
Perched high in the stunning French Alps within Vanoise National Park, this route offers incredible scenery—but come winter, forget about it. The road becomes completely impassable once the snow rolls in, so timing your visit is absolutely crucial. This is peak summer adventure territory for hardcore off-road enthusiasts who want to experience the raw beauty of the high Alps.
Where is it?
A brutal unpaved road to Col des Pres is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 47.4738, 1.9514
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,652 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 47.4738, 1.9514
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