20.1
PDI
6.1 mi
DISTANCE
2,755 ft
GAINED
8.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The average grade is 8.7% over 9.7 km (6.0 mi), rising from 297 m (975 ft) to 1,137 m (3,730 ft). The steepest 0.5 km (0.3 mi) averages 12.4%, the steepest kilometer (0.6 mi) 11.0%, the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 10.2% and the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) 9.3%. The hardest single pitch, about 100 yards (91 m), reaches 15.1%.
Riders report ramps of 12% to 15% after La Palud, and the last kilometers are often described as the toughest, with little recovery. Start conservatively through the village and vineyards and save something for the forest.
Roadway: The road is paved the whole way, but the surface is rough and granular in places, with potholes reported. Some riders have found loose gravel in the last forested kilometers after La Palud, probably left by roadworks, and rockfalls have occurred on this side of the mountain. In winter, cinders may be spread on the road. The descent is narrow and fast, with brakes that heat up quickly at the start.
Traffic: Light on the climb, which is a winding forest road with few cars. At the col the road joins the D912, the main route between Chambéry and the Entremonts, where traffic is heavier.
Parking: Riders usually start near the church on the avenue du Granier in Chapareillan. The Bois-Plan car-share area is another reported starting point for those arriving by car. Chambéry is the main rail hub, and the local tourist office publishes a 25.8 km (16.0 mi) road route from Chambéry station to the col via Chapareillan.
Provisions: Refreshments are available at the top of the col, but once you pass La Palud the climb has no services, so fill bottles at the start. Shade is plentiful through the forest, which helps in summer.
Gear: Low gearing matters here: a 34-tooth chainring with a 30-tooth or larger sprocket is sensible on an 8.7% average with pitches near 15%. On the descent, keep to the brakes early and check them before you drop; the road is narrow and the first hairpins come quickly.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Chapareillan sits at the foot of the huge north face of Mont Granier (1,933 m / 6,342 ft), whose broad, square shape comes from the collapse that struck one night in November 1248. Medieval chroniclers recorded five villages buried, and the area below on the Chambéry side is still known as the Abymes. The town's published history of the mountain is an excellent read before you ride.
From the col you can descend toward Chambéry via the Pas de la Fosse for a gentler way down, or drop to the Entremonts valley for the Col du Cucheron and the Col de Porte, the other two cols of the Chartreuse Trilogy.
To see other climbs in the Chartreuse massif, including the other routes up the Granier, try our Routes in the Area tool.
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