An epic paved road to Vallon du Melezet in the Alps
France, europe
11.5 km
1,821 m
hard
Year-round
# Vallon du Mélézet: A High Alpine Adventure
Tucked away in the Hautes-Alpes department of southeastern France, Vallon du Mélézet is a stunning high mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,821 meters (5,974 feet) above sea level in the heart of the French Alps.
The journey up is via the D60, a well-maintained paved road that'll keep you confident on most sections—though fair warning: it gets genuinely steep in places, with grades hitting 13.3%. The real showstopper? Les 12 lacets de Ceillac, a legendary series of 12 hairpin turns that'll keep your hands busy and your adrenaline pumping. At the summit, you'll find Refuge de la Cime, a cozy mountain refuge perfect for a break or a bite.
Starting from Le Pont de Pierre où Maison du Roi, you're looking at an 11.5-kilometer (7.14-mile) climb with 770 meters of elevation gain. The average gradient works out to around 6.69%, so it's manageable but definitely not a casual cruise.
Here's the best part: this pass is open year-round, though winter weather can occasionally force temporary closures when conditions get gnarly. Pick your timing right, and you've got yourself one of the Alps' most rewarding drives.
Where is it?
An epic paved road to Vallon du Melezet in the Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 44.8295, 2.1896
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 11.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,821 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 44.8295, 2.1896
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