Climbs in the Vercors
Below is a list of the main climbs in the Vercors. To give you some idea of how they compare to the more famous climbs in France there are details for Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux as well as major climbs featured in the Marmotte and Etape du Tour cyclosportives.
Depending on how demanding or scenic you want your rides to be, with our local knowledge we can advise you on the best ones to climb, descend or avoid at all costs. If it's hard climbs you want, we know where they are.
Our base is at 170 metres and the climbs in the Vercors are mainly to between 1000 and 1400 metres. This normally means that you can do most of your climbing in the morning and can enjoy your lunch in the knowledge that it's all downhill on the way home.
Climb |
Summit (m) |
Base (m) |
Vertical Climb |
Distance (Km) |
Gradient (%) |
Musan |
1220 |
605 |
615 |
6 |
10.25 |
Tibetan Centre from Cognin |
821 |
269 |
552 |
6 |
9.20 |
Alpe d'Huez (1st corner to Tourist Office) |
1780 |
750 |
1030 |
12 |
8.60 |
Le Faz (St.Pierre) |
994 |
204 |
790 |
10 |
7.90 |
Presles (to tunnels) |
788 |
235 |
553 |
7 |
7.90 |
Gorges du Nan to junction |
1280 |
270 |
1010 |
13.25 |
7.62 |
Telegraph (Marmotte) |
1570 |
710 |
860 |
11.5 |
7.48 |
Tourmalet (Etape 2008) |
2115 |
847 |
1268 |
17.2 |
7.37 |
Col de Gaudissard |
912 |
250 |
662 |
9 |
7.36 |
Tibet from Izeron |
821 |
235 |
586 |
8 |
7.33 |
Ventoux South |
1912 |
290 |
1532 |
21.2 |
7.23 |
Galibier (Marmotte) |
2646 |
1420 |
1226 |
17 |
7.21 |
Col de Gaudissard |
846 |
270 |
576 |
8 |
7.20 |
Col de Mont Noir (Gorges du Nan) |
1421 |
270 |
1151 |
16 |
7.19 |
Col de l'Echarasson |
1146 |
250 |
896 |
12.5 |
7.17 |
Izoard (Etape 2006) |
2360 |
1210 |
1095 |
15.9 |
6.89 |
Glandon (Marmotte) |
1924 |
448 |
1476 |
21.5 |
6.87 |
Sommet de l'Arps |
1065 |
310 |
755 |
11 |
6.86 |
Hautacam (Etape 2008) |
1635 |
465 |
1170 |
17.3 |
6.76 |
Col de Romeyere (Ecouges) |
1069 |
190 |
879 |
13 |
6.76 |
St.Nizier |
1168 |
215 |
953 |
14.5 |
6.57 |
Col de Mont Noir (Le Faz) |
1421 |
994 |
427 |
6.5 |
6.57 |
Col de Pra l'Etange (via Rencurel) |
1269 |
860 |
409 |
6.5 |
6.29 |
Limouches from Peyrus |
1086 |
410 |
676 |
11 |
6.15 |
Le Faz (via Col de Toutes Aures) |
994 |
235 |
759 |
12.5 |
6.07 |
Col de la Machine |
1030 |
250 |
780 |
13 |
6.00 |
Tourniol from Barbieres |
1145 |
410 |
735 |
12.5 |
5.88 |
Col de la Bataille (from Leoncel) |
1336 |
915 |
421 |
7.5 |
5.61 |
Col de Pra l'Etange (via Presles) |
1269 |
829 |
440 |
8 |
5.50 |
Herbouilly (via St.Martin) |
1370 |
829 |
541 |
10 |
5.41 |
Col de Bacchus (from Beaufort) |
980 |
395 |
585 |
11 |
5.32 |
Col de la Portette |
1175 |
250 |
925 |
18.5 |
5.00 |
Col de Romeyere (from Rencurel) |
1069 |
670 |
399 |
8.25 |
4.84 |
Sassenage to Lans |
1004 |
203 |
801 |
18 |
4.45 |
Col de Rousset from Die |
1254 |
395 |
859 |
21 |
4.09 |