Why you should experience Col de la Loze in Courchevel, France.
Col de la Loze in Courchevel, France, is more than just a mountain pass, it’s a masterpiece of altitude and ambition, a ribbon of asphalt and snow that threads through the beating heart of the Alps.
Rising to 2,304 meters, this breathtaking col connects Courchevel with Méribel, carving a path that feels almost sculpted from the clouds. The views unfold in all directions, jagged ridgelines of the Vanoise National Park, the glint of Mont Blanc to the north, and the glittering resort villages spread below like constellations. Whether you climb it on a bicycle, ski over it in winter, or hike its alpine meadows in summer, Col de la Loze embodies the spirit of the mountains: challenge, serenity, and awe intertwined. It’s where the air thins, the world widens, and silence feels sacred. For Courchevel, this is not just geography, it’s identity. Col de la Loze defines the resort’s horizon line, a meeting point of two worlds: one of human triumph, the other of untamed nature.
What you didn’t know about Col de la Loze.
Though it’s ancient in origin, Col de la Loze has only recently stepped into the modern spotlight, reinvented not as a throughway, but as a symbol of sustainable adventure.
In 2019, Courchevel and Méribel collaborated to open the Voie Verte, the first mountain pass in France designed exclusively for cyclists. The route winds 7 kilometers from Courchevel 1850, climbing more than 700 vertical meters to the summit, no cars, no noise, just the rhythm of pedals and breath against mountain air. When the Tour de France included it in 2020, Col de la Loze immediately earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful and brutal climbs in the Alps, gradients reaching over 20% in sections, balanced by views so magnificent they almost make the suffering poetic. But the col’s significance extends far beyond sport. Long before modern tourism, shepherds and traders crossed this ridge, moving between valleys with the seasons. Today, the same path links two of the world’s most prestigious ski domains: Les Trois Vallées and the Vanoise Massif, merging history with innovation. In winter, skiers glide effortlessly across its snow-covered back, connecting Courchevel’s Saulire sector to Méribel’s Altiport runs. In summer, wildflowers replace powder, and cyclists share the route with marmots and eagles. It’s a living corridor, one that celebrates movement without machines, progress without destruction.
How to fold Col de la Loze into your trip.
Visiting Col de la Loze is about chasing perspective, the kind that can only be earned by ascent.
If you’re a cyclist, the climb from Courchevel is a rite of passage: 7.5 kilometers of relentless gradient that rewards endurance with beauty. Electric bikes are available for those who prefer to enjoy the panorama without the pain, and what a panorama it is. From the summit, you can see the Saulire, Dent de Burgin, and even the distant peaks of the Écrins on clear days. For hikers, trails weave from the Courchevel altiport and the Loze lift station, winding through alpine pastures where cows graze under an open sky. Stop at the summit cross, where information panels trace the region’s geography and offer one of the most cinematic picnic spots in the Alps. In winter, Col de la Loze becomes a seamless ski link, a ridge of rolling pistes and panoramic viewpoints that connect two legendary ski worlds. End the day at a mountain restaurant like Le Cap Horn or Le Bouc Blanc, where the scent of melted cheese and firewood carries on the wind. As twilight descends, the peaks blush pink, the valleys fade into shadow, and the air takes on that unmistakable stillness, the kind that feels both infinite and intimate. Col de la Loze isn’t just a crossing; it’s a summit of spirit, a reminder that the most rewarding views always require a climb.
Hear it from the Foresyte community.
“Street’s so quiet you can hear your own thoughts bouncing off the snow. Feels like stepping into a movie where nothing bad ever happens and everyone smells like cedar.”
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