On the edge of the Ubaye valley, Col de Larche opens a long, steady road into Italy, far gentler than most major Alpine passes despite its near-2,000 m altitude.
A long ascent with a mild gradient
From Barcelonnette, it’s about 23.5 km for 775 m of elevation gain, averaging just 3.5%, with steeper sections around 5.5%. The summit tops out at 1,996 m, right on the Franco-Italian border.
A historic gateway to Italy
Col de Larche, called Colle della Maddalena on the Italian side, links the Ubaye valley to the Stura di Demonte valley, not far from other major passes like Colle della Lombarda or Colle Fauniera. Open almost year-round except during heavy snowfall, this cross-border road has long served as a trade link between the two sides of the Alps.
How to approach the ride
The mild gradient combined with the route’s length makes it a good candidate for an old-school long day out, with frame bags if the plan is to push on into Italy and string together several days.
When to climb it
June to September: the road stays rideable later in the season than neighbouring passes, but the near-2,000 m summit altitude still justifies packing a lightweight windbreaker.
Good to know
The pass makes it easy to continue on into Italy’s Colle della Maddalena for a cross-border excursion, a popular option for cyclists staying in the Ubaye valley.
