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Col de la Loze
The Col de la Loze links Courchevel to Méribel at 2,304 m on a road closed to cars. Seven kilometres on the Méribel side, 6.5 on the Courchevel side, and a 23% wall.
Kuba Turek https://www.horydoly.cz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
High-altitude cycle road and viewpoint
Access
Free · Bicycles only
Best season
Summer
Town
Courchevel
Winter access
closed
What is Col de la Loze
The Col de la Loze tops out at 2,304 m between Courchevel and Méribel. It is not a road pass: the route is reserved for bicycles and e-bikes, and cars are banned. That is the most surprising fact about it, and the one not to get wrong.
The road was built in two stages: the Courchevel side in autumn 2018, officially opened on 18 May 2019, then the Méribel side in summer 2019. It runs 7 km on the Méribel side from the altiport, starting at 1,673 m, and 6.5 km on the Courchevel side. The Méribel tourist office reports frequent gradient changes above 20%, and a wall at 23% before the pass.
One correction is needed: meribel.net presents the Loze as "the highest mountain pass of the Tour de France". That is inaccurate. At 2,304 m it is well below the Col de l'Iseran, at 2,770 m, also crossed by the Tour.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Altitude
2,304 m
Coordinates
45.407339° N, 6.602635° E (DATAtourisme queue, "Point de vue - Col de la Loze" row). No official source publishes coordinates.
Access
Reserved for bicycles and e-bikes. Cars banned.
Length
7 km on the Méribel side from the altiport, starting at 1,673 m · 6.5 km on the Courchevel side
Gradient
Frequent changes above 20%, wall given at 23% before the pass (meribel.net, uncorroborated)
Seasonal opening
Price
Free, open access
Construction
Courchevel side autumn 2018, official opening 18 May 2019; Méribel side summer 2019 (courchevel.com)
Tour de France
Stages in 2020 and 2023 per meribel.net. No other source consulted confirms this.
Parking
Dogs
Accessibility
Access
How to get there
By car
Not possible: the route is reserved for bicycles and e-bikes. Cars cannot reach the pass.
Open in MapsBy bike
Méribel side: 7 km from the altiport, 1,673 m to 2,304 m, gradients frequently above 20% and a wall given at 23% before the pass. Courchevel side: 6.5 km of dedicated road. The Méribel tourist office recommends an e-bike.
Open in MapsWhen to visit
When to visit
The route is a high-altitude road, rideable in summer. No official source publishes opening or closing dates: do not transpose the Les 3 Vallées lift dates, which do not apply to this road.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Closed (road shut in winter) — Live status: savoie-route.fr
Winter infrastructure
Alpine skiing
Snow panorama
Clear Mont-Blanc view
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
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Gallery
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How high is the Col de la Loze?
2,304 m. Every source consulted agrees.
Can you drive up the Col de la Loze?
No. The route is reserved for bicycles and e-bikes; cars are banned. That is what makes the pass unusual.
Is the Col de la Loze the highest pass of the Tour de France?
No. At 2,304 m it is well below the Col de l'Iseran (2,770 m), also crossed by the Tour. The wording used by meribel.net is inaccurate: the Loze was the highest stage finish of its edition, which is a different claim.
How long is the climb?
7 km from the Méribel altiport, starting at 1,673 m, and 6.5 km from Courchevel.
When is the road open?
No official source publishes an opening period for the cycle road. The Les 3 Vallées dates cover the ski lifts, not the road.
Sources
Sources & verification
- Courchevel Tourisme — le col de la Loze, 1re étape de la Via 3 Vallées
- Méribel Tourisme — col de la Loze
- Infosnews — nouveau : le col de la Loze
- France Bleu — une nouvelle route d'altitude dédiée aux cyclistes à Courchevel
- Cols-cyclisme — col de la Loze depuis Brides-les-Bains via Méribel
- Route des Grandes Alpes — col de la Loze, guide d'ascension
- Alpes4ever — col de la Loze
- Explore la Vanoise — col de la Loze à vélo, entre Méribel et Courchevel
- Les 3 Vallées — ouvertures été 2026
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
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