Courage is Required to Drive to Pic de l’Herpie
France, europe
6.7 km
3,067 m
extreme
Year-round
# Pic de l'Herpie: France's Ultimate High-Altitude Adventure
Want to test your driving skills at nearly 10,000 feet? Pic de l'Herpie in the Isère department is calling your name. Perched at 3,067m (10,062ft) in the stunning Grandes Rousses massif of the Central French Alps, this peak ranks among Europe's highest accessible roads.
Fair warning: this isn't a casual Sunday drive. The 6.7 km (4.16 miles) route starting from Chalet du Sela climbs a punishing 1,225m with an average gradient of 18.28%—yeah, that's steep. You'll navigate 13 hairpin turns on a completely unpaved surface that'll have your heart pounding and your knuckles white on the steering wheel. Four-wheel drive is absolutely mandatory here; regular vehicles need not apply.
Originally built as a service road for the chairlift system, this route remains closed to private vehicles, though die-hard adventurers sometimes attempt it anyway. The dramatic Alpine scenery is absolutely worth the adrenaline rush, with breathtaking vistas across the Rhône-Alpes region unfolding as you climb.
One crucial detail: forget about this road from November through April. Winter makes it completely impassable—even for the bravest drivers in the beefiest rigs. Summer and early autumn are your window to conquer this beast and claim bragging rights for one of France's most intense mountain drives.
Where is it?
Courage is Required to Drive to Pic de l’Herpie is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.8521, 3.7120
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 6.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,067 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 45.8521, 3.7120
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