Col de la Colombière

The Col de la Colombière (1,613 m) links Le Reposoir to Le Grand-Bornand via the D4, forming one of the iconic stages of the Route des Grandes Alpes. A must for cyclists, the pass has hosted the Tour de France more than 20 times since 1960 and ranks among the legendary climbs of the Northern Alps. On the Reposoir side (north), the climb is brutal, with gradients of up to 11% in the final kilometres; on the Grand-Bornand side (south), the ascent is more gradual but just as spectacular.

At the top, the panorama sweeps across the Aravis and Bargy ranges, with the Pointe Percée (2,750 m) as a backdrop. A mountain restaurant, a car park and picnic areas let walkers and cyclists make the most of the spot. Several hiking trails leave from the col: the Tête des Annes (1,869 m), the Doran refuge (1,495 m, 1h30 walk) and the Lac de Peyre (2,080 m). Ibex regularly graze the surrounding pastures, and the col is a prime spot for observing the bearded vulture.

The road is closed in winter, usually from mid-November to early May depending on snow cover. In 2026 the col reopened on 6 May at 2pm. Access is free year-round during the open season, and a free shuttle bus runs to the col from Le Grand-Bornand from 11 July to 21 August.