JUILLET - AOUT, accès réservé aux cyclistes de 8h à 11h
Environment
Ubaye valley: Mountain at Provence's doors
On the North East side, the Alpes de Haute Provence, between Hautes-Alpes and the Mercantour, is linked to Italy This area of high mountain is crossed by a stream which gave its name to the"Ubaye" valley which is spread over few dozen of kilometres. As the name of the department can make you guess, the Ubaye valley is characterised at the same time by Mediterranean climate and an Alpine landscape with summit as high as 3300 metres.
300 sunny days a year !
The Ubaye valley, just as a big parts of the Southern Alps, benefit from a particular climate : the sun predominate 300 days a year in average and most part of weather disruption coming from the North are stopped at the level of the imposing Ecrin massif which stop them by its height and width.
7 mountain pass, 7 type of course, 7 ways to approach the Ubaye valley
With its mountainous scenery and complex landscape, the Ubaye has a natural protection made of gorges and 6 mountains pass reaching at least a height of1990 m.
1. CAYOLLE PASS
Link the Var valley to the Ubaye
Trail : Guillaumes / col de la Cayolle Pra Loup - Barcelonnette
Departure height : 795 m
Pass height : 2327 m
height at arrival : 1135 m Difference of height
Guillaume / Col : 1532 m
Pass / Barcelonnette : 1192 m
Maximum downgrade : 9 %
Average doxngrade : 4,44 %
Length : 61,5 kms
From South to North, the road is winding through the superb Daluis gorges and then along the Bachelard river, crossing through the Mercantour park. Various restoration outlet points.
2. ALLOS PASS
Link Verdon to Ubaye
Trail : Colmar / col d'Allos / Pra Loup - Barcelonnette
Departure height: 1197 m
Pass hieght : 2247 m
Height at arrival : 1135 m Difference of height
Colmar / Col : 1050 m
Col / Barcelonnette : 1117 m
Maximum downgrade : 9 %
Average downgrade : 4,96 %
Length : 44,6 kms
This is one of famous pass of Provence displaying various settings (gorges, larch forest, high mountain pasture) and allow to reach the Verdon springs. Down hill to Barcelonnette will offer very nice view over the valley.
3. VARS PASS
Link Queyras to the Ubaye
Trail : Guillestre / col de Vars / Barcelonnette - Pra Loup
Departure height : 1003 m
Pass height : 2109 m
Height at arrival : 1135 m Difference of height
Guillestre / Col : 1106 m
Col / Barcelonnette : 974 m
Maximum downgrade : 10 %
Average downgrade : 6,4 %
Length : 49 kms
The fabulous landscape of the Queyras and to which succeed a beautiful view of the Ubaye valley. Notes the particular geological formation called ‘'Les Demoiselles Coiffées''
4.RESTEFOND-LA BONETTE PASS
links the Alpes Maritime and Alpes de Haute Provence
Trail : Saint Etienne de Tinee / col de la bonette / Barcelonnette - Pra Loup
Departure height : 1444 m
Pass height : 2802 m
Height of arrival : 1135 m Differnce of height Saint Etienne de tinée / Col : 1658 m
Col / Barcelonnette : 1667 m
Maximum height : 9,5 %
Average downgrade : 7 %
Lenght : 57 kms
This one is the higher road pass in France. At the top of the pass, a little trail give access to the mountain top of la Bonette where an orientation table describe a wonderful panorama stretching from la Tinée to Italy (Mont Viso)
5. PONTIS PASS
Link the Embrunais to the Ubaye
Trail : Serre-Ponçon lake / col de Pontis / Barcelonnette Pra Loup
Pass height : 1301 m
Height at arrival : 1135 m Difference of height Barcelonnette : 166 m
Longueur : 34 kms
Very nice view of the Serre-Ponçon lake.
6. SAINT JEAN PASS
link Gap to the Ubaye
Pass height : 1333 m
Height at arrival : 1135 m Difference of height
Barcelonnette / Lac : 335 m
Lac / Col : 501 m
Lenght : 33 kms
Very nice view of the Serre-Ponçon Lake. The biggest water holding, whose famous dam is made out of earth.
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