Where is Col des Tentes?
France, europe
12.4 km
2,208 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about Col des Tentes! This stunner of a mountain pass sits way up high in the French Pyrenees, in the Occitania region, at a cool 2,208m (7,244ft).
You'll find it in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, twisting and turning along the D923. The pavement isn't the smoothest, and it's a bit of a "what if" road, meant to connect to Spain via the Port de Boucharo, but that never quite happened on the Spanish side. Get ready for some seriously challenging switchbacks (those *lacets*!), but trust me, the views of the Pyrenees from the top are worth every hairpin turn.
This little beauty is only 12.4 km (7.70 miles) long, snaking from Gavarnie right up to the Spanish border. The majority of the road is decent, but the last 1.5 km? Pedestrians only, folks! At the summit, there's a big parking lot that's buzzing in the summer. Be prepared for some steep climbs, too—you'll hit gradients of up to 11%.
Keep in mind, this pass is usually open from May to November, but being high in the Pyrenees, the weather can change in a heartbeat, so keep an eye on the forecast!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 12.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,208 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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