Rallye des Cimes — Col de la Cayolle to Col de Vars via the Ubaye Alpine High Loop
Two high cols, one valley, zero guardrails.
The Col de la Cayolle sits at 2,326 m above the Var River and the road over it from Barcelonnette to Guillaumes is one of the finest and most overlooked alpine drives on the continent. Pair it with the Col de Vars (2,108 m) on the northeast side of the Ubaye Valley and you’ve got a full-day high-altitude loop with expansive views across the Mercantour massif, wild camping above the treeline, and enough switchbacks on unpaved forestry connections to remind you why you bought lockers. The D902 and D25 pistes connecting these cols are partially gravelled with loose shale on exposed corners; some sections genuinely require careful line choice in a high-clearance vehicle. This is not a trail — it’s a drive that rewards patience and punishes speed.
A capable high-clearance 4WD handles this comfortably but the unpaved forest connectors between Fouillouse and the Col de Vars demand respect in wet conditions. Best window is late June through September — both cols are gated and snowbound outside those months. No permit required. Fuel in Barcelonnette; limited services in Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye. Cell service vanishes above 2,000 m. Wild camping is tolerated but not officially signposted — practice leave-no-trace. The loop is roughly 120 km and can be driven in a long day or split across two.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 75 mi / 120 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7631 ft |
| Best season | Late June–September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Barcelonnette, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence |
| Land manager | ONF — Office National des Forêts / Parc National du Mercantour |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Parc National du Mercantour |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Defender or 4Runner handle this, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Defender 110 or 4Runner handles it fine — the loose gravel and narrow shelf roads are the challenge, not rock obstacles. Lifted rigs gain nothing here; what matters is approach angle and driver confidence on exposed two-track above 2,400 m. Low-clearance crossovers are out.
When do the cols actually open after winter — and can I push it in early June?
Col de la Cayolle and Col de Vars typically open late June, but snow can linger into early July at elevation. Check with the ONF or local gendarmerie before attempting anything before mid-June — closures are enforced and the snowpack at 7,600 ft is no joke.
Do I need a permit to run this route or enter the Mercantour park area?
No permit is required to drive the route itself. If you're camping inside Parc National du Mercantour boundaries, dispersed camping is restricted to designated zones and only one night per spot — check the park's regulations at mercantour-parcnational.fr before you go.
What's the sketchiest section and what should I actually be ready for?
The loose gravel shelf roads dropping off the cols are where it gets real — no guardrails, narrow two-track, and steep fall lines to the valley floor. Oncoming traffic (cyclists, farm vehicles) is the bigger wildcard than the surface itself. Take it slow, stay right, and don't assume you have right of way.
How far is the nearest fuel from the route, and can I make the whole loop on one tank?
Barcelonnette is your last reliable fuel stop before heading into the loop — fill up there. The 75-mile route itself won't empty most overland rigs, but the detours, slow crawling at altitude, and any side exploration add up fast. Don't leave Barcelonnette with less than three-quarters of a tank.
Trail track
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