Col de Parpaillon — Crévoux to Barcelonnette via the Parpaillon Tunnel
Alpine gravel with a military tunnel at the top.
The Col de Parpaillon is a gravel road across the French Alps, and it has a 520-meter military tunnel at the top. You start at Crévoux, climb 3,500 feet of loose switchbacks past alpine meadows, then roll into the unlit, dripping tube at about 2,637 meters. The tunnel is narrow, rough, and wet, with puddles hiding in the dark. Pop out the south portal and the road drops steeply into the Ubaye Valley toward Barcelonnette, with the Alps spread out below you.
It’s moderate in difficulty but demands attention. The surface is mostly graded gravel with washouts and loose stretches, and there are tight sections and exposure on the Ubaye side. High clearance and decent tires are enough, but turn on your headlights in the tunnel and expect oncoming traffic with little room to pass. The pass opens late and closes early, usually July through October, and snow can linger. No permit is needed, but check local conditions with the commune before you go, because rockfall and washouts happen. There’s no fuel on the route, so top off in Embrun or Barcelonnette. Cell coverage is patchy. What you get is a real Alpine gravel crossing with one of the strangest summits in Europe. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 22 mi / 35.4 km |
| Duration | 3-4 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8678 ft |
| Best season | July-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 2WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Barcelonnette, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence |
| Land manager | Local communes (Crévoux, Barcelonnette) and Hautes-Alpes department |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 2WD SUV or crossover do the Col de Parpaillon?
Yes, if it has real ground clearance and the track is dry. Expect loose gravel, washboard, embedded rock, and potholes in the tunnel, so low-slung cars will scrape. AWD and decent tires help when it's wet.
When is the Parpaillon open, and can I drive it in winter?
No. Snow closes the high section in winter, and drifts can linger into June. July through October is the reliable window, and early-season runs can still have snow or ice near the tunnel mouths.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to drive the Parpaillon?
No permit or toll is typically required for this public track. France bans driving off established tracks, so stay on the route and check Crévoux, Barcelonnette, or Hautes-Alpes notices for closures or rockfall restrictions.
What's the hardest part of the route, and what is the tunnel really like?
The tunnel is the crux. It's a long, unlit military tunnel with a rough, wet floor, standing water, and tight walls, so run headlights, go slow, and don't expect to pass anyone inside. The rest is steady rocky gravel with exposed shelf-road sections and few places to pull over.
Is there cell service, and where should I fuel up?
Cell service is spotty and often gone near the pass. Fill up in Embrun or Barcelonnette before you go, since the 22 miles are short but there's no fuel on the route. Download your maps offline and tell someone your timing.
Trail track
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