Herbouilly pass

Altitude 1370 m

Massif du Vercors

Département Isère

Topo versant Est

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The Col d'Herbouilly - 1370 m - is a pass in the northern Vercors Massif. It serves as a transition between the east and west of the massif, and also between Isère and Drôme. At the same time, you can cross the Col de Chalimont.
The 10.3 km-long eastern slope starts in Villard-de-Lans. Its ascent takes place in 3 stages:
A beautiful 2.3 km, 6.5% gradient takes you up to Bois Barbu.
Then it's down to business as you pass through the Site Nordique de Bois Barbu to the Belvédère de Valchevrière, with a 4.7 km series of flat stretches and gentle climbs. From the belvedere, take a look at the village, which was destroyed by the Germans in July 1944 during the Second World War. Only the chapel was not burnt down.
On leaving the belvedere, the slope takes over again, with 940 m at 5%, followed by 910 m at 3%. Don't get carried away on this fairly easy section, though, as the final climb is terrible: 470 m at 9.5%, followed by 725 m at 8.5%. You'll then reach the Col... de Chalimont - 1365 m -, an intermediate pass at 185 m with an additional 5 m D+ from the Col d'Herbouilly - 1370 m. The passes are located in the middle of the woods and won't offer you any views.

Topo west side

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11.6 km long, the West slope starts at St-Martin-en-Vercors in the Drôme. The climb is steeper than on the eastern side. It really starts just outside the village on the D103, which you'll have to follow to a right-hand junction that takes you to the Col d'Herbouilly on the D331. Count on 6.5 km with a gradient of between 6 and 8%. The descent is followed by a gentle ascent to a belvedere offering a beautiful view of the magnificent Prairie d'Herbouilly. The final stretch is pleasant, with 1.4 km at 2.5% to reach the Col d'Herbouilly at 1370 m.

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Villard-de-Lans / Die

10 Villard-de-Lans / Die

73 km
5 h 40 min
Medium
Reaching the Diois area via the P’tites Routes du Soleil® promises a complete change of scenery and a southern feel… but before that, time to ride right across the natural fortress of the Vercors. Hostilities begin as you leave Villard-de-Lans and climb the small Col d’Herbouilly (a pass at 1,370m). Further on, the Col de Proncel (at 1,100m) links the villages of La Chapelle-en-Vercors and Vassieux-en-Vercors. After Vassieux, the Col de St-Alexis (1,222m) allows you to carry on to the Col de Rousset (1,245m). As to the Tunnel du Rousset, 769m in length, note that it requires lights to cycle through it. As you descend off the Vercors Plateau towards Die, the contrast is extraordinary. Before long, you’ll spot your first lavender fields, a foretaste of Provence. For a challenging, interesting alternative to the Col du Rousset as a way down from the Vercors Plateau, opt for the Col de la Bataille (1,313m), then descend towards Die via the Gervanne Valley and the Col de la Croix.

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Joris Lesueur

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