22.6
PDI
13.4 mi
DISTANCE
4,154 ft
GAINED
5.3 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Col d'Aubisque from Ferrières is the eastern, two-pass approach to one of the Pyrenees' great Tour de France climbs. From Ferrières the route covers 21.6 km (13.4 mi) and gains 1266 m (4,154 ft) at a 5.3% average, topping out at the 1709 m (5,607 ft) pass beneath the Pic de Ger. It's really two climbs in one: an 11.9 km (7.4 mi) haul up the Ouzom valley to the Col du Soulor (1474 m / 4,836 ft) at about 7.6%, then a spectacular balcony road across the Cirque du Litor to the Aubisque.
The Ouzom valley is the quietest way up to the Soulor - a pastoral, wooded side valley past Arbéost and through the Tartas narrows into open summer pastures. From the Soulor the D918 dips into the Cirque du Litor and carves across its cliffs through two short, narrow rock tunnels, with the valley you've just climbed falling away below.
The Aubisque was first crossed by the Tour de France in 1910 and has featured more than 70 times since, among the three most-visited climbs in Tour history, most recently in 2022. This corniche is also where, descending toward the Soulor in the 1951 Tour, yellow jersey Wim van Est - the first Dutchman to wear it - slid off the road and fell some 70 m into a ravine. He survived, and a memorial plaque unveiled in 2001, with van Est there, marks the spot.
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 Ferrières at 555 m (1,820 ft), the climb covers 21.6 km (13.4 mi) and gains 1266 m (4,154 ft) at an average of 5.3%, including about 119 m (392 ft) of descending along the way.
The first 11.9 km (7.4 mi), to the Col du Soulor, average about 7.6% and are the heart of the climb. The opening kilometer out of Ferrières averages 9.3%, kilometers 2 through 7 settle into a 5.6-8.2% range, and kilometers 8 and 9 are the steepest sustained pair on the route at 9.0% and 9.2%.
From the Soulor the road drops about 110 m (361 ft) over the next 2 km into the Cirque du Litor, then climbs the final 7.6 km (4.7 mi) at a much friendlier 4.6%, stiffening to 6-8% over the last 3.5 km to the pass.
The steepest kilometer averages 9.2%, the steepest 0.5 km 10.0%, the steepest 2 km 9.0%, and the steepest 5 km 8.4%.
Roadway: The D126 from Ferrières to the Soulor is a narrow, winding valley road - wilder than the main approaches, with a surface that's rougher in places. From the Soulor, the D918 across the Cirque du Litor is a cliff-hugging corniche with two short, narrow rock tunnels and big drops off the edge. The Soulor-Aubisque section closes every winter and typically reopens between late May and June; vehicles over 3.5 t are banned on the corniche. Check the Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques road-status pages (Inforoute 64 for the Aubisque side) before an early- or late-season ride.
Traffic: Light on the Ouzom valley side - it's the calmest of the approaches to the Soulor. Traffic picks up once the D918 from Arrens joins at the Soulor, with tourist cars and motorcyclists crossing between the two passes on summer weekends.
Parking: Ferrières is a small village of about a hundred residents, so parking is informal - find a spot in the village near the start, leaving farm and residents' access clear.
Provisions: Top up before you start. The Col du Soulor, 11.9 km in, has seasonal cafés and restaurants and is the natural refuel stop, and there are two cafés at the Col d'Aubisque itself.
Gear: Compact gearing is plenty for most riders - the grade never averages more than about 9% for a full kilometer. Pack a windproof and arm warmers: the corniche and the upper slopes are fully exposed, and it can be much colder at 1709 m than in the valley. A small rear light is a sensible addition for the two tunnels on the Litor corniche.
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.
Ferrières sits in the Ouzom valley, a quiet pastoral valley that's easy to overlook between the busier Ossau and Argelès valleys. It's also the start of our Col de Spandelles (Ferrières) climb, the narrow back road that made its Tour de France debut in 2022, so it makes a good base for a two-col day.
If you have time at the Soulor, the Val d'Azun on the far side is worth a look - the D918 drops through Arrens-Marsous toward Argelès-Gazost (see our Col du Soulor (Arrens) page). On the Aubisque, the giant Tour de France bicycles and the André Bach memorial stone are covered on our Col d'Aubisque (Laruns) page, along with the descent to Eaux-Bonnes and Laruns. See what else is nearby, or build a custom route from here, with our Routes in the Area tool.
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