Col de l'Echelle
D1TNevache to Bardonecchia · Hautes-Alpes / Piedmont
A narrow, tranquil forest crossing from the wild Claree valley into Italy, the quiet cult alternative to the busy Montgenevre.
The D1T climbs from the unspoilt Claree valley near Nevache to the 1,762m Col de l'Echelle, the lowest pass on the Franco-Italian frontier, then drops in a tight twist of hairpins through larch forest to Bardonecchia in Italy. It is a single-track, lightly trafficked road, deeply atmospheric and a cult favourite for those who prefer charm and solitude over scale. The narrowness and the steep wooded Italian descent are the defining features. Mind the genuinely single-track width with very limited passing places, the tight steep hairpins on the Italian side that can be restricted to light vehicles, and snow closure through winter and into spring.
Where it runs
Character
Elevation
318 m rangeKnow before you go
- Single-track width with very limited passing places
- Tight steep Italian hairpins, often light-vehicle only
- Closed by snow through winter and into spring
Sources
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Col de l'Echelle.
