Col de Vars

French Alps, France

Gradient:

<4%

4–7%

7–10%

10–12%

>12%

Approach route

APPROACH ROUTES

Col de Vars

from Guillestre

Distance

18.9km

Elevation

1073m

Avg %

5.7%

Max %

13.8%

<4%4–7%7–10%10–12%>12%

Col de Vars

from Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye

Distance

12.0km

Elevation

757m

Avg %

6.3%

Max %

12.8%

<4%4–7%7–10%10–12%>12%

Col de Vars is a Category 1 ascent in the French Alps, France, topping out at 2 109 m. The Guillestre approach is the hardest — 18.9 km at 5.7%, 1 073 m gained, maxing at 13.8%. The steepest kilometre averages 11.2%, around km 3. It can also be climbed from Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye (12.0 km at 6.3%): 2 measured approaches in all, each profiled kilometre-by-kilometre against Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data. On the Fiets scale it rates 7.2. Above the treeline the summit holds snow well into spring, so the dependable riding window runs roughly June to October.

RIDE THE CLIMB — FROM GUILLESTRE

View at km 0.3 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 0.8 — Photo by clementmno / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 1.3 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 1.8 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 2.3 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 2.8 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 3.3 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 3.8 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 4.3 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 4.9 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 5.4 — Photo by etrimaille / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 5.9 — Photo by clementmno / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 6.4 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 6.9 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 7.4 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 8.4 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 8.9 — Photo by clementmno / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 9.5 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 10 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 10.5 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 11 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 11.5 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 12 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 12.5 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 13 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 13.5 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 14 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 14.6 — Photo by clementmno / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 15.1 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 15.6 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 16.1 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 16.6 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 17.1 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 17.6 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 18.1 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 18.6 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

View at km 18.9 — Photo by joostjakob / Mapillary (CC-BY-SA 4.0) Source

FEATURED IN

Tour de France 2024 — Stage 19: Embrun - Isola 2000

COL DE VARS

Summit

2109m

Approaches

2

Hardest

CAT 1

Hardest side

18.9km

NEARBY CLIMBS

Col de Larche / Colle della Maddalena

1991m

Faux col de Restefond

2656m

Cime de la Bonette

2860m

Côte de Saint-Apollinaire

1208m

Col Agnel / Colle dell'Agnello

2744m

RIDE IT FROM

Briançon

40 km from the climb · 1219 m elev

French Alps

Region guide

Col de Vars — Photo by Zehnfinger / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Source