Alpine Passes

Mountain Roads of Europe

Col de Vars

Col de Vars

France · Hautes-Alpes

2,108m

Key Facts

Elevation
2,108m
Route length
39 km
Max gradient
10%
Hairpins
16
Driving difficulty
Challenging (3/5)
Surface
Good
Open
May - November

Route & Map

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Route

SGuillestre
39 km · max 10%
Col de Vars (2,108m)
Descent
ESaint-Paul-sur-Ubaye
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Key pass on the Route des Grandes Alpes connecting the Ubaye to the Durance valley. Regular Tour de France climb with moderate gradients.

Weather & Conditions

Driving Experience

Elevation Profile

991m1,271m1,550m1,830m2,109m0 km10 km20 km2,109m
1,226m gain
763m loss
991m → 2,109m → 1,454m

Difficulty

Challenging

3/5 — car driving difficulty

Based on steepness, elevation gain, hairpins, road length & surface quality

Hairpin Turns

16

Serious switchback territory

When to Drive

May - November (Best: July - September)

  • Open May - November. Check locally for exact opening dates as conditions vary each year.
  • Morning hours offer the best driving conditions with less traffic.
  • Snow may linger into June at this elevation. Check webcams before departing.

Coordinates

Summit
44.5378°N, 6.7025°E
Start (Guillestre)
44.6597°N, 6.6472°E
End (Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye)
44.5100°N, 6.7400°E
#cycling#tour-de-france#route-des-grandes-alpes

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Image: Zehnfinger / CC BY-SA 3.0