Col des Champs
Col des Champs Height Climbing height
2093m
Sign 2087m
1043m (St. Martin-d’Entraunes); 1300m (Guillaumes)
863m (Colmars)
Difficulty Beauty
3-4 (5) 3-4 (5)
How to get there St. Martin-d’Entraunes (1050m) to the east of the pass is a nice little typical southern french village. Here a somewhat narrow road starts that goes to the pass. After a little while it splits up in two roads and I believe the left (south) one is the nicest and most interesting one. The roads join together again after around 5 km at the steepest place of the climb on this side (around 14%). It is very irregularly steep. You can also start already down at the Gorges de Daluis or Guillaumes (793m). The road from the west starts just above Colmars (1230m) and has a rougher pavement (especially high up in the woods). Soon before the pass on this side there are also many annoying big drainage “sinks” on the road that one has to cycle through, which slows down a downhill journey (similar to the ones found at Col de Sarenne (1999m)).
Other comments The actual geographic pass is on a gravel road a little lower and it is seen from the pass height. It is very nice up at the pass height and at various places on the east side, but the west side is almost always in the woods and without views. This is the most southern pass above 2000 metres in the Alps and the climb could thus be rather hot, so be sure to bring enough water. Restaurants and cafés at Colmars and St. Martin-d’Entraunes. There is one bar before the last climb on the east side (seen in the photo). See also: Col de la Cayolle (2326m) and Col d’Allos/Col de Valgelaye
[FR-04-2093, BIG 310]