Plan a route here

Grand Colombier Mountain Pass

Mountain pass · Rhône-Alpes · 1,496 m

Responsible for this content
Montagne de l'Ain

courses d'enfants au sommet du Grand Colombier
Photo: @Marc_Chatelain/Aintourisme

This tough cyclist challenge is now a prominent feature of the Tour de France. With a gradient of over 20% on its steepest slope, avid cyclists flock here from all over. But the summit sitting at 1,534m (5,033ft) also plays host to other sporting activities (hiking trails, GR9®) as well as attracting those simply wishing to admire the 3 great alpine lakes.

Lynxes, chamois, woodlarks, orchids, narcissus and globeflowers… Here you can expect to see a wide range of wildlife and vegetation in a natural setting now protected by the Sensitive Natural Areas classification (ENS in French). The site offers a 360° panoramic view of:
• Mont Blanc and the Alps,
• 3 alpine lakes: Lake Bourget, Lake Annecy and Lake Léman,
• the Rhone River.

You can visit the pass by car, along a road promising spectacular views from Culoz or Anglefort on the east side, or from Virieu-le-Petit.
On foot, over 100km of hiking trails lead up to the summit and continue along the ridge where the views are guaranteed to take your breath away!

––

APIDAE tourism data updated on 16/06/2020 by "Aintourisme".
Spotted an error? Write to f.matkovic@aintourisme.com with the following information:
File name: Col du Grand Colombier, ENS de l'Ain | Record identifier: 4657681 | URL (link) for this Outdooractive page.

Opening hours

All year round.

Price:

Free of charge.

Coordinates

45.903807, 5.762411

DMS

45°54'13.7"N 5°45'44.7"E

UTM

31T 714267 5087070

w3w

///analysis.straddles.sensual

Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Recommendations nearby

Hiking Route · Jura Mountains

Hike: on the ridge of the Grand Colombier (circuit des crêtes)

recommended route Difficulty moderate closed

Distance 11.2 km

Duration 4:00 h

Ascent 600 m

Descent 613 m

Route along the ridges and passing by the summit of Grand Colombier (1531 m), the viewpoint of Chanduraz (1260 m) and the orientation table of the ...

from Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme, Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme

Hiking Route · L'Ain

Hike of the Grand Colombier starting from Munet

recommended route Difficulty difficult Open

Distance 15.8 km

Duration 7:00 h

Ascent 1,100 m

Descent 981 m

Starting in the calm forest of the Massif du Grand Colombier, the slopes will lead you to the breathtaking panoramic views of the summit and the ...

from Montagne de l'Ain, Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme

Trail Running · Arvière-en-Valromey

Running trail: Climb of the Grand Colombier from Munet

recommended route Difficulty difficult

Distance 15.8 km

Duration 2:30 h

Ascent 981 m

Descent 981 m

Starting in the calm forest of the Massif du Grand Colombier, the slopes will lead you to the breathtaking panoramic views of the summit and the ...

from Montagne de l'Ain, Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme

Trail Running · L'Ain

Scioux running trail on Grand Colombier

recommended route Difficulty difficult closed

Distance 13 km

Duration 1:50 h

Ascent 395 m

Descent 394 m

Itinerary with a course in the forest, in alpine pastures and then on the crest line of the Grand Colombier. Exceptional panoramic view of the Alps ...

from Montagne de l'Ain, Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme

Hiking Route · Bugey Sud

Hike: Le circuit des Scioux

recommended route Difficulty easy closed

Distance 13 km

Duration 4:20 h

Ascent 395 m

Descent 394 m

Itinerary with a course in the forest, in alpine pastures and then on the crest line of the Grand Colombier. Exceptional panoramic view of the Alps ...

from Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme, Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme

Road Cycling · L'Ain

Col du Grand Colombier depuis Anglefort

recommended route Difficulty difficult

Distance 15.2 km

Duration 1:50 h

Ascent 1,213 m

Descent 0 m

La voie Est se mérite à 8% de pente moyenne !

from Patricia Sallet, Montagne de l'Ain

Trail Running · Arvière-en-Valromey

Running trail: Chanduraz from Chavornay

recommended route Difficulty difficult Open

Distance 11.9 km

Duration 2:45 h

Ascent 820 m

Descent 821 m

From the hamlet of Charaillin in the commune of Chavornay, an ascent to Chanduraz at an altitude of 1218 metres on the Grand Colombier massif: at ...

from Montagne de l'Ain, Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme

Hiking Route · L'Ain

Hiking in Bugey: Crêtes de Sur Lyand

recommended route Difficulty easy closed

Distance 9.3 km

Duration 3:30 h

Ascent 329 m

Descent 329 m

Wonderful hike in the heart of the Grand Colombier massif: discover the crests and its panoramas on the Alps, pastures and the site of Arvières ...

from Montagne de l'Ain, Bugey Sud Grand Colombier Tourisme

Show all on map

Nearby Points of Interest

These suggestions were created automatically.

Questions and answers

Ask the first question

Would you like to the ask the author a question?

Rating

Write your first review

Help others by being the first to add a review.

Photos from others