The Pass and tunnel of
Parpaillon
The Alps are well known for the famous RGA route des grandes Alpes accessible to all, but less so for these tracks open to traffic, which are nevertheless the delight of Maxi-trail lovers. So we went for a walk around the Tunnel du Parpaillon, and the Col de la Moutière. Neighbours of the famous Col de la Bonette on our maxi-trails to give you more information.
As you can imagine these Alpine landscapes are to cut the breath and it will undoubtedly be a fantastic moment on your bike. But let's look at the details...
Opening/closing: Perched in the mountains, these trails only open a few months in the year from June/July to October. Snow can even join the game in the middle of summer, so it's better to be informed beforehand ;)
The "tunnel du Parpaillon":
In a few lines:
The pass is at an altitude of 2,783 metres and is only crossed by a former unmaintained road. The road linking Crévoux (Hautes-Alpes) to Condamine-Châtelard (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), which is unpaved in its upper part and not cleared of snow in winter, passes through a tunnel located at an altitude of between 2,643 and 2,637 metres above the pass. This tunnel, which is vaulted and 520 metres long, has been closed to traffic several times. So get out of here!
Levels of difficulty:
Relatively identical to that of La Moutière, so like any runway, its condition can vary according to previous climatic conditions. You may find a slightly greasier terrain in wet weather. When the snow melts, the tunnel can turn into a real quagmire, but nothing that cannot be crossed. So I would say that this track is of average difficulty for an amateur with some experience.
Parpaillon GPX file
Map of the tunnel du Parpaillon:
Discover more !
Road trip of Islande
