Col des Gourses

Col des Gourses is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.565m (8,415ft) above the sea level, located in Rhone-Alpes in the French Isère département.

Col des Gourses
Col des Gourses

The road to the summit is gravel, rocky and very steep. It’s called R1-2 trail. It’s one of the highest trafficable road in the Alps. The road is passable by all-terrain vehicle. The track still stands winding, often stony, dusty and steep. The road is signposted as mountain bike cross-country course and is even used by motorized heavy vehicles. The way has some very steep ramps. You have to challenge some very steep grades which require both physical strength and a very low gear.
The road is asphalted to 1.730m altitude, just above the highest houses on the side. Then the gravel road is good enough for cycling with a road bike on, but it is still quite steep and very dusty. This road is usually open throughout the summer. The road ends at the Col du Jandri, at an elevation of 3.165m (10,383ft).
Pic: Jacky TESSIER