Col du Galibier Military Road

At 8,678 feet, Col du Galibier has broken more Tour de France dreams than any other climb, but the old military supply road that parallels the main route tells a different story entirely. Built in 1891 to move artillery between French Alpine fortifications, this gravel track switchbacks through 19 hairpins above the tree line, past abandoned concrete bunkers and rusted cable systems that once hauled cannons to the summit. The final approach crosses the Glacier de Tabuchet’s terminal moraine, where military engineers dynamited passage through house-sized boulders.

Moderate difficulty suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though snow blocks the route from November to May. The real challenge is weather—thunderstorms build fast above 8,000 feet and there’s zero shelter for the final 4 miles. Stock up on fuel in Valloire; services disappear beyond the valley. No permits required but check conditions with local gendarmes. This route offers what the paved road can’t: solitude on one of Europe’s most legendary passes, plus access to high-altitude camping spots the cyclists never see.