Where is Col de la Bailletta?
France, europe
9.4 km
2,852 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Col de la Bailletta, nestled in the Savoie department of France, is calling your name. This beast of a mountain pass tops out at a whopping 2,852 meters (9,356 feet)!
You'll find this beauty in the Rhône-Alpes region, specifically within the Bailletaz Nature Reserve. The journey begins near Lac du Chevril, just below Val d’Isere, where you'll veer off the main D902. The road is paved at first, all the way to Lac/Barrage du Saut (one of France's highest paved roads!). But after that, things get real as the road turns to gravel.
From the D902, you're looking at a 9.4 km (5.84 miles) trek to the top. This old military road is mostly gravel and wide enough, but the higher you go, around the 2700 meter mark, the road becomes more of a hiking trail due to landslides. So, be warned: the final stretch is not suitable for vehicles. But trust me, the views are totally worth it! Just take your time and soak in the scenery. It's an experience you won't forget!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,852 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
extremeHow To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Olchansky Pass
🌍 Russia
Deep in the Sakha Republic, Russia, you'll find the Olchansky Pass, sitting pretty at 1,183m (3,881ft) in the Verkhoyansk Mountains. This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about the Kolyma Highway (R504), a.k.a. the infamous Road of Bones, which some call the world's coldest winter adventure. The road stretches 1,868km (1,160 miles) from near Yakutsk to Magadan on the Sea of Okhotsk. The road is totally unpaved and gets super steep near Ust-Nera, hitting a maximum 10% gradient in spots. Now, for the juicy bits: this road is notorious! Picture this: unmaintained roads, washed-out bridges, and sections reclaimed by streams. Extreme temps, heavy snow, ice, and terrible visibility are the norm. And the mud! Oh, the mud! During rainy season, it turns into an impassable clay blanket that can swallow trucks whole. Forget asphalt, thanks to the permafrost. Summer isn’t much better with mud-induced traffic jams becoming legendary. So, when's the best time to go? Either dry summer or when it's frozen solid in winter. Hazards? Where do we begin? Think unsafe driving, dodgy roads, unmaintained vehicles, large trucks kicking up dust clouds, and outdated maps. Oh, and wildlife, including bears. But hey, if you're after a truly desolate adventure with scenery to die for (maybe literally!), this is your road. Just be prepared for anything!
hardPas-de-Maimbré
🇨🇭 Switzerland
# Pas-de-Maimbré: A Wild Alpine Adventure Nestled in the Valais region of Switzerland, Pas-de-Maimbré towers at 2,362 meters (7,749 feet) and offers one seriously intense mountain experience. This isn't your typical scenic drive—it's a chairlift access trail that demands serious respect. The route itself is a steep ski-station service road with sections hitting up to 30% gradient. You're navigating rocky, gravel terrain that only gets gnarlier as you climb higher, with loose stones and exposed rock dominating the upper reaches. The narrow summer window means you've got to time this perfectly—hit it outside that brief window and you're looking at serious trouble. Here's the kicker: even in summer, snow can surprise you. Wind is relentless year-round and absolutely brutal in winter, when temperatures plummet to genuinely dangerous levels. Pack layers and respect the weather forecast religiously. But here's why it's worth it: from the summit, you can spot over 1,000 mountain peaks on a clear day, including at least fifteen 4,000-meter (13,123-foot) giants. The summit hosts a restaurant, gondola lift station, and communication tower, so there's actual civilization up there—though the howling wind might make you question that. This is Alpine adventure in its purest, most unforgiving form. Go prepared, go humble, and go in summer.
hardHere's How To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Refuge de Moede Anterne
🇫🇷 France
Okay, so you're heading to Refuge de Moëde Anterne, perched way up in the Fiz Mountains in the French Alps? Get ready for an adventure! This mountain refuge sits at almost 6,600 feet, and getting there is half the fun. The road? Well, let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Think gravel, rocks, and a whole lotta bumps. You'll definitely want some experience tackling unpaved mountain roads before attempting this one. It's pretty steep in sections, and if it's been raining, expect some seriously muddy conditions. Definitely not a place to be if you're afraid of heights. On the bright side, the views are incredible! Plus, this area has some cool history – it was actually used as a hideout by French Resistance fighters during World War II. Just a heads up, this road is usually closed during the winter months.
moderateWhere is Fort de la Redoute?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, picture this: You're in the French Alps, near the Italian border, ready for an adventure. You're heading to Fort de la Redoute, a seriously cool historical site perched high in the mountains. This place has seen some stuff! It started as a redoubt back in the day, got a French makeover, and then evolved into a full-blown fort with walls, an observatory, even a drawbridge. It was manned by Alpine troops and visited by presidents. It even saw action during World War II! Now, getting there is half the fun. The road is an old military track, so expect unpaved conditions the whole way. We're talking a rough, rugged climb that's only accessible in the summer. Definitely not a drive to attempt after rain! Starting from the paved D1090, the unpaved section stretches for 2.7 km. It's a rideable climb, and the views from the top are insane. And the fort itself? Exploring its ruins is like stepping back in time. Heads up, though: Access is technically prohibited due to unexploded ordnance! After the war, the area became part of the La Rosière ski resort, and the old military track is now a hiking and trail route.