Where is Col des Laquets?
France, europe
5.6 km
2,637 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Col des Laquets is a seriously epic mountain pass perched way up high in the French Pyrenees, clocking in at a dizzying 2,637m (that's 8,651ft!). You'll find this bad boy in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of France.
Heads up, this isn't your typical Sunday drive. The road is unpaved, rugged, and unforgiving! We're talking steep inclines, loose surfaces, and heart-stopping cliff edges – oh, and a couple of short tunnels thrown in for good measure! They call it the Old Toll Road, though, spoiler, it isn't one. The altitude alone will leave you breathless, and the gnarly road conditions make it a no-go for newbie drivers. There's even a gate to keep cars out, so this one's best tackled on foot or by bike.
The climb from the gift shop stretches for about 5.6 km (3.47 miles), packing in a whopping 566 meters of elevation gain. Get ready for an average gradient of 10.10%, with sections that crank up to a brutal 24%! And don't be surprised if you encounter snow, even in late June.
But trust me, the views are worth the sweat! Word is, there's even talk of building a hotel up there, which could mean paving the road someday. Plus, if you're feeling extra adventurous, the Pic du Midi di Bigorre is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the pass. Get ready for views that'll blow your mind!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 5.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,637 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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