homeCol du Poutran (Lac Besson) (Alpe d’Huez)
Col du Poutran (Lac Besson) (Alpe d’Huez) Height Climbing height - length
1996m/2080m 1279m - 16.5 km (1382m - 18.3 km) (Le Bourg d’Oisans)
1367m - 24 km (1470m - 25.8 km) (Rochetaillée via Villard-Reculas)
1306m - 21 km (1409m - 22.8 km) (Bge du Verney via Villard-Reculas)
1560m - 26.9 km (1663m - 28.7 km) (Le Freney-d’Oisans)
1093m - 14 km (Le Bourg d’Oisans - Alpe d’Huez)
Difficulty Beauty
3-4 (5) 4 (5)
How to get there

The classic Alpe d’Huez climb is part of the climb to this pass. One could do the standard Alpe d’Huez climb from Le Bourg d’Oisans (717m) and continue to up to the pass. Or if one came down from the Col de la Croix de Fer (2065m) road, one could take off at the southern side of the Barrage du Verney (772m) (dam), and climb via Villard-Reculas and Huez (1480m) to the pass. This is slightly easier as the road is almost flat for some kilometres between Villard-Reculas and Huez and it is also very beautiful way to go to the pass. If you are coming up from Grenoble, you would start below the dam at Rochetaillée (711m) and then join the same road via Villard-Reculas.

If you come down from the Col du Lautaret (2057m) pass, you could start the climb at Le Freney-d’Oisans (828m) and use a very nice balcony road to get a bit up on the Alpe d’Huez road (with a little up and down to La Garde (422m descent)).

Other comments

There are plenty of cyclists in this region because of the magnetism that Alpe d’Huez has on cyclists worldwide. Alpe d’Huez (1810m) almost looks charming from up at the pass height (though it would be hard to claim the same while being closer to that village). Alpe d’Huez has plenty of restaurants, cafés and shops. The classic finish of the Alpe d’Huez climb is by the Palais des Sports (where I believe you could buy some kind of proof/medal for having made the climb) and NOT at the entry of the village where they try to make you think you should stop (and even suggest you are much higher than you are).

One could continue on the asphalt road a little longer than the pass to Lac Besson and Lac Rond (2080m). The road to take above Alpe d’Huez is obvious. The pass is located slightly off the actual road on a path down to the station Oz. One could also climb to this pass via Col de Sarenne (1999m).


[FR-38-1996b, BIG 290]
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