21.6
PDI
8 mi
DISTANCE
3,220 ft
GAINED
7.4 %
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. Col du Solude averages 7.4% over 12.9 km (8.0 mi), and the climb leaves little time to warm up. The steepest 10 km (6.2 mi) average 9.1%, the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) 10.1%, the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 11.2% and the steepest kilometre 13.8%, with the steepest half kilometre (0.3 mi) at 15.0%.
Those figures make this a much harder ride than the 7.4% average suggests. Riders describe immediate steep grades from the start, and the effort stays hard through the forest and balcony sections up to the col.
Roadway: The lower road is narrow and paved, cut into the rock face with steep drops and few barriers, and it passes through four unlit tunnels. Beyond Villard-Notre-Dame the pavement gives way to packed stone and then a gravel and dirt track that is smooth in dry conditions but slippery when wet. The road is not cleared of snow and can stay closed until mid to late June.
Traffic: Very light. Few cars use the road, and you will meet far fewer cyclists than on Alpe d'Huez across the valley. There are no cafes, signs or support services at or near the col.
Parking: Le Bourg-d'Oisans is the base for the whole Oisans, and the climb starts on the edge of town, so you can ride out from wherever you are staying. Our Alpe d'Huez page has the parking details for the free spaces around the roundabout and side streets in town.
Gear: Front and rear lights are essential for the tunnels, one of which is completely dark. A road bike can do the climb, but wider tyres or a gravel bike make the packed-stone and gravel section far more comfortable, especially on the descent.
Provisions: There are no services at the col, so carry the food and water you need from Le Bourg-d'Oisans. The descent is technical and the tunnels are dark, so take it slowly and keep your lights on.
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.
Ride Solude between late spring and early autumn, in dry, clear conditions. Snow can keep the upper road impassable until mid to late June, and the gravel section is remote and slippery when wet, so it is a poor choice after rain.
The road continues over the col toward Villard-Reymond, and the western approach to the same pass is a separate climb (our Col du Solude Ouest page). The view back across the valley at Alpe d'Huez's 21 bends is what riders come for. For the busy side of the valley, see our Alpe d'Huez and Col de Sarenne pages.
With the col at 1,682 m (5,517 ft) and no services, check current conditions at the top before you go with our Weather tool.
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golmstead
Really one of my favorite rides ever. Just amazing. The road starts out winding though the forest but gets to the 3km long balcony road soon enough. The road is carved out of solid rock and as you look to your left you can see Alpe d'Huez and a little bit of Col du Galibier. There are four tunnels early on, and only one requires a light to get through it. Fortunately for me, the rider ahead of me took out his phone/flashlight to lead us through the tunnel. The road transitions back to forest for some switchbacks, then there's some gravel road for a bit at the summit. Lots of technical descending takes you back to the start. The great thing about the ride is that you see one vista one the way up, another at the summit, and a third on the descent. An unforgettable ride for sure.
