Col de la Cayolle
D902 · Barcelonnette → Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes · France
- Length
- 18 miles
- Drive time
- 50 min
- Type
- Mountain pass
- Region
- Europe
Before you go: Closed roughly Nov–May (snow); narrow in the gorge
The quiet alternative out of Barcelonnette: a narrow shelf through the Bachelard gorge, then alpine meadows to 2,326 m at the border of the Mercantour national park.
Highlights of the Col de la Cayolle
- Bachelard gorge shelf
- Mercantour wildlife
- Far quieter than Bonette
Where to stop on the Col de la Cayolle
- Station des 5 Cols, Barcelonnette fuel — 24/7 pumps named for the five passes — last proper fuel before the Cayolle
- L'Auberge du Bachelard food — Roadside auberge in the Bachelard valley — the eating stop now the Bayasse refuge is shut for 2026
- Col de la Cayolle viewpoint — Quiet 2,326 m col at the source of the Var — marmots on the top slopes
Drive the Col de la Cayolle
Open Col de la Cayolle on the map → ⬇ Download GPX
GPX works with Garmin, TomTom, Beeline and most bike sat-navs. Free, no sign-up — these are indicative waypoints, so follow the road signs, not the arrow.
Plot it, add it to a club run with a meeting point and pit stops, then share the whole trip as one link. Free, no account, works offline.
Route research: Club road index · More roads in France
More driving roads in Europe
- Mont Ventoux D974 · 20 mi · France
- Gorges du Cians D28 · 15 mi · France
- Passo Sella SS242 · 7 mi · Italy
- Passo Gardena SS243 · 6 mi · Italy
- Passo Pordoi SS48 · 8 mi · Italy
- Passo Campolongo SP244 · 6 mi · Italy