{"id":93121,"date":"2026-01-30T18:48:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centcols.org\/?p=93121"},"modified":"2026-02-02T10:24:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T08:24:29","slug":"col-du-parpaillon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centcols.org\/en\/col-du-parpaillon\/","title":{"rendered":"Parpaillon pass"},"content":{"rendered":"

The PARPAILLON pass (FR-04-2637<\/a>) 54 3538-O 133-031<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If ever there was a legendary pass, it's the Parpaillon! Located on the border between the Alpes de Haute-Provence and the Hautes-Alpes, it culminates at 2637m on a ridge separating the Durance and Ubaye valleys. The pass was opened by military engineers, as were many other crossings along the Grande Travers\u00e9e des Alpes between Thonon and Nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u00abluck\u00bb of the Parpaillon is that it was in competition with the Vars pass, which provided a link between the same valleys but at an altitude 500m lower. When tarmac was introduced, it was the Vars pass that was naturally given it! The Col du Parpaillon is therefore one of the last remaining examples of what a major Alpine pass could have been before the era of the car and tarmac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even today, the Parpaillon is a magnet for anyone looking for an unspoilt, pure, wild mountain to slip into as a guest. From Condamine-Ch\u00e2telard, the south-facing slope offers a difference in altitude of around 1,400m over 18km. Only the first 6km are tarmac, the rest is a good R1 track that first rises under the larches, then leads into a wide valley where the \u00abCabane du Grand Parpaillon\u00bb nestles at 2031m. This is a high mountain environment, with alpine pastures, rocky outcrops, large scree cones and no human occupation whatsoever. The trail climbs up majestic switchbacks to the famous summit tunnel... A tunnel with wooden doors (sometimes blocked by snow if you've got there too early in the season!). It's a dark, icy tunnel that you pass through with your eyes fixed on the tiny light hole at the exit, allowing you to wade through a few dark puddles while pushing your bike...
Purists will be able to climb the \u00abreal\u00bb pass (FR-04-2783<\/a>) by taking the S3-4 path that crosses the ridge above the tunnel at around 2780m. The views are magnificent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the northern slopes, there's not a soul to be seen before the small village of La Chalp, where the tarmac reappears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Col du Parpaillon can be climbed on a superb circuit which, from Condamine, takes in the Col du Parpaillon, the Col de la Coche (FR-05-1791<\/a>), Col de Valbelle (FR-05-2372<\/a>), Col de Ch\u00e9rine (FR-05-2270<\/a>) and Col de Vars (FR-04-2108<\/a>). The most determined can even add the Col de Girabeau (FR-05-2488b<\/a>), the Col du Vallon (FR-05-2466b<\/a>) and the Saluces Pass (FR-05-2444<\/a>) but you'll need to plan a long day's cycling for that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article by Ren\u00e9 Poty<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Meeting in the switchbacks above the Grand Parpaillon hut.
In the distance: the notch in the Col de la Pare (2655m) Photo by Caty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Light and shade on the descent towards the Grand Parpaillon hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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View near the summit: the switchbacks on the south-facing slope. Photo by Jean Huez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The last few hectometres... at the foot of the final ridge you can see the tunnel opening! Photo by M. Lerouge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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At the top of the Parpaillon: the black gully of the tunnel... Photo by P. Larue.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Le col du PARPAILLON (FR-04-2637) 54 3538-O 133-031 S’il est un col de l\u00e9gende c’est bien le Parpaillon ! Situ\u00e9 \u00e0 la limite des Alpes de Haute-Provence et des Hautes-Alpes, il culmine \u00e0 2637m sur une cr\u00eate s\u00e9parant la vall\u00e9e de la Durance et celle de l’Ubaye. Ce col a \u00e9t\u00e9 ouvert par les troupes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":93131,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[308],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cols-en-vrac"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCol du Parpaillon - Club des Cent Cols<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/en\/col-du-parpaillon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Col du Parpaillon - Club des Cent Cols\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Le col du PARPAILLON (FR-04-2637) 54 3538-O 133-031 S’il est un col de l\u00e9gende c’est bien le Parpaillon ! Situ\u00e9 \u00e0 la limite des Alpes de Haute-Provence et des Hautes-Alpes, il culmine \u00e0 2637m sur une cr\u00eate s\u00e9parant la vall\u00e9e de la Durance et celle de l’Ubaye. 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