Col des Grands Vans
Col des Grands Vans is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.198m (7,211ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
The road to the summit, located within the mountains of the Grand Massif above Flaine ski station, is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times. It’s a gravel service road behind the ski lift.The road is usually impassable from October to June (weather permitting). Great trail for experienced wheelers. Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. 4x4 vehicle required. Stay away if you're scared of heights. Expect a trail pretty steep. A challenging but superb mountain drive. The wind is usually quite strong at mountain areas. High winds blow here all year long. Even in summer you can confront with snowy days. Temperatures here in the winter are brutally cold. With such a high summit altitude the road can be closed anytime due to snowfalls. The zone is prone to heavy mist and can be dangerous in low visibility conditions. It’s an amazing place jutting out over a cliff with 360 degree views. Simply wild.
Pic: thomas nicodeme