20.6
PDI
17.6 mi
DISTANCE
4,252 ft
GAINED
4.5 %
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. From Laruns the climb covers 28.3 km (17.6 mi) and gains 1,296 m (4,252 ft) at 4.5%, from 514 m (1,686 ft) to 1,792 m (5,880 ft), with only about 18 m (58 ft) of descending along the way.
It is a climb of long, easy stretches with a few real ramps. The valley road through the Hourat gorge and Eaux-Chaudes is gentle, and after the Miégebat power station there are about 4 km (2.5 mi) of easy grade before the road settles into 6-7% through the beech woods toward Gabas. The hardest sustained section comes after the Artouste power station around km 16 (mile 9.9), where two hairpins lead into roughly 3 km (1.9 mi) at 7-9%. The grade then flattens along the reservoir, eases to 4-5% beyond the Caillou de Soques at km 23.3 (mile 14.5), and finishes with about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) near 7% past the avalanche sheds.
The steepest kilometer averages 8.4% (0.6 mi), the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 7.7%, the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) 6.6% and the steepest 10 km (6.2 mi) 5.4%. None of those are severe - the challenge here is length, 28 km of steady climbing, rather than steepness.
Roadway: The D934 is a two-lane paved road up the Ossau Valley. It is narrow through the Hourat gorge and again in the upper valley, where several avalanche sheds shelter the road, so bring lights. The pass is kept open through the winter, but snow typically lies from late October to late May and heavy snowfall can close the road for a couple of days. A rockslide closed the road about 5 km below the pass in May 2023; it reopened later that year, and the Vuelta crossed the pass in 2023. Check the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department's Inforoute 64 page before an early- or late-season ride.
Traffic: Traffic is the recurring complaint from cyclists on this road. It builds through the summer, especially on Sundays, with cars, campervans and French shoppers heading for the duty-free shops just over the border. Start early or ride midweek for the best experience.
Parking: The Col du Pourtalet and the Col d'Aubisque both start from the same edge of Laruns, so the free Parking du Centre at the top of the Avenue de la Gare (about 100 spaces, by the town square and tourist office) works for either ride - see our Col d'Aubisque (Laruns) page for the details. It is an easy roll from there to the fork where the D934 heads for Spain.
Provisions: Stock up in Laruns, and plan your main stop at Gabas around km 14 (mile 8.8), the natural break point on the climb with its cheese-salting cellars and the chapel of Gaston Phébus. Carry enough water for the long upper valley; the shops and ventas just over the Spanish border are the reward at the top.
Gear: Standard compact gearing is plenty, since the grade rarely strays above 9%. Lights are worthwhile for the avalanche sheds, and the exposed upper plateau can be windy and cold even in summer, so pack a windproof for the descent. The border post no longer operates under Schengen, but carry ID if you plan to continue into Spain.
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.
Laruns is the base for both this climb and the Col d'Aubisque - hotels, shops and the tourist office are covered on our Col d'Aubisque (Laruns) page, so here are the stops that belong to the Pourtalet side of the valley. Eaux-Chaudes, about 5.5 km (3.4 mi) up, is a spa village set below the Pont d'Enfer, and Gabas is the last village on the French side and a good place to rest before the harder upper valley.
Near Lac de Fabrèges is the departure point for the Artouste cable car and tourist train, which carries visitors up to Lac d'Artouste; in 2026 it runs daily from 8 May to 4 October. At the Caillou de Soques (km 23.3, mile 14.5) a popular footpath starts for the Pombie refuge and the Arrémoulit lakes - a good hike for the day after. Over the pass, the Spanish side drops toward the ski valley of Formigal.
The valley has several other climbs within reach of Laruns - see other climbs nearby, or build a custom route from here, with our Routes in the Area tool.
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