24.2
PDI
10.5 mi
DISTANCE
3,817 ft
GAINED
6.9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Col d'Aubisque from Laruns is the western approach to one of the most storied passes in cycling. From the edge of Laruns, the Ossau Valley's main town, the road climbs 16.8 km (10.5 mi) and gains 1,163 m (3,817 ft) at a 6.9% average grade, passing the spa town of Eaux-Bonnes and the ski resort of Gourette before topping out at the 1,709 m (5,607 ft) pass beneath the Pic de Ger. It ranks #84 in France by our rankings.
It's a climb of two halves. The first 6 km (3.7 mi), up the valley and through Eaux-Bonnes, are a gentle 4.5-5.5% warm-up through forest, including a short one-way loop around the town's public garden. Then the real climb begins: from about km 7 the grade settles into a steady 7-9% all the way up, through the hairpins below Gourette, under avalanche galleries with a view of the Valentin waterfall, and finally above the trees across open summer pasture where sheep, cows and horses graze freely.
The Aubisque first appeared in the Tour de France in 1910, the year the race first tackled the high Pyrenees, and it has been crossed more than 70 times since - among the three most-visited climbs in Tour history - with summit finishes in 1985 and 2007 and its most recent appearance on Stage 18 of the 2022 Tour. We rode this side in 2011 and again in 2018, and it hasn't changed a bit. At the top, three giant bicycles painted in the colors of the Tour jerseys stand near a stele honoring André Bach, the one-armed president of the Béarn cyclo club who died after deportation in 1945 and loved this pass. The road is usually closed by snow from mid-November to May, so check conditions with our Weather tool before you go.
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 16.8 km (10.5 mi) and gains 1,163 m (3,817 ft) at 6.9%, from 535 m (1,754 ft), with only about 5 m (16 ft) of descending along the way.
The first 6 km (3.7 mi) are the easy part: each kilometer averages between 4.5% and 5.6% up the valley and through Eaux-Bonnes. From about km 7 the character changes completely - the remaining 10 km (6.2 mi) all average between 7.1% and 9.1%, and this is where the Aubisque earns its reputation.
The steepest kilometer averages 9.1%, the steepest 0.5 km 9.5%, and the steepest 100 m (0.1 mi) pitch 10.2%. The steepest 5 km average 8.5% and the steepest 10 km 8.2% - long, even and relentless rather than savagely steep, which makes pacing everything.
Roadway: The D918 is a classic Tour de France road - two lanes, well paved and in good condition all the way to the pass, with a short one-way loop around the public garden in Eaux-Bonnes. The pass is typically closed by snow from mid-November until May or early June; beyond the summit, vehicles over 3.5 t are banned on the corniche to the Col du Soulor. Check the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department's Inforoute 64 page before an early- or late-season ride.
Traffic: Moderate. Summer weekends bring tourist cars, motorcyclists and campervans heading to Gourette and over the pass, but the road is wide enough to share comfortably. For a car-free ascent, the annual On s'y Col morning closes the road from Laruns to the pass to motor traffic for three hours each September (13 September in 2026).
Parking: Laruns' Parking du Centre is a free, year-round lot of about 100 spaces at the top of the Avenue de la Gare, right by the town square, tourist office and shops - an easy roll to the start. The Laruns station car park is the traditional gathering point for the On s'y Col event.
Provisions: Laruns has bakeries, cafés and shops for stocking up before you start, and Eaux-Bonnes and Gourette have cafés and restaurants along the way, though Gourette's are largely seasonal outside the ski months.
Gear: Standard compact gearing is plenty for most riders, since the grade rarely strays above 9%. Pack a windproof and arm warmers for the descent - the final couple of kilometers are fully exposed, and conditions at 1,709 m can be very different from the valley floor.
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 natural base for this side of the Aubisque - a lively mountain town with hotels, restaurants and the Ossau Valley tourist office at the Maison de la Vallée d'Ossau, a good first stop for road-status updates.
Eaux-Bonnes, which you ride through around km 4, is a 19th-century spa town whose grand hotel facades and public garden are worth a slower look on the way back down. If you've packed walking shoes, the Soum de Grum loop from the pass is a gentle balcony walk with big views over the Gourette and Litor cirques.
The Col du Pourtalet into Spain starts from the same fork just outside Laruns, and continuing east over the Aubisque drops you onto the famous cliff-side corniche to the Col du Soulor - our Col d'Aubisque (Ferrières) page covers that side of the mountain.
For those looking to stay in the area we would recommend the Pyrenees Cycling Lodge. Located in the beautiful medieval village of Saint Savin and hosted by Mark & Niamh, the Lodge is run by cyclists for cyclists. It is a great location for any cycling adventure in the Pyrenees with several renowned climbs within 100km of the property and 6 Tour de France climbs within 15km. Visit their website or contact them directly at pyreneescyclinglodge@gmail.com .
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