Col de la Bonette Cycling Guide

Key Stats

Altitude: 2,715 m (8,907 ft)
Category: Hors Catégorie (HC)
North side: ~24 km from Jausiers, average 6.9%
South side: 19.8 km from Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee, 1,569 m D+
Max gradient: ~10% on the upper ramps
Open season: June – October, conditions permitting
Surface: Tarmac — fully paved
Access: Free — no permit required

Use these numbers as your starting point, then check live road status before committing to the high road. For broader route planning, start with our full cycling guide for the Ubaye Valley.

North Climb

From Jausiers, the northern ascent is the classic test: long, sustained, and increasingly exposed as the road rises above the valley. The first kilometres let you settle into rhythm before the upper hairpins and altitude make every acceleration expensive.

View the Bonette segment on Strava

South Climb

From Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee, the south side climbs for 19.8 km and gains 1,569 m before the road tightens near Restefond. It is shorter than the north side, but the sustained gradient, altitude, and exposure still make it a full mountain objective.

Difficulty & Road Profile

Col de la Bonette is a Hors Catégorie climb because it combines distance, altitude, and a summit environment where wind and temperature can change quickly. It is less brutally concentrated than Mont Ventoux, but the time spent above 2,000 m makes it feel more like a high Alpine day on the Col du Galibier.

Pace the lower slopes conservatively, eat before you feel empty, and keep a jacket for the descent. The gradient is rarely savage, but the altitude punishes riders who treat the first hour like a threshold effort.

Weather & Best Season

The road is a true high-mountain pass. Even in summer, the summit can be windy and cold while Barcelonnette is warm. Treat September as the sweet spot for quieter roads, clear air, and stable riding windows.

Col de la Bonette — Monthly conditions
Month	Road status	Conditions	Recommendation
June	Opening period	Snow walls possible, cold mornings	Check pass status and carry layers
July	Usually open	Stable, bright, high UV	Best all-round month for first attempts
August	Usually open	Warm valleys, exposed summit winds	Start early before traffic and storms
September	Usually open	Cool, quiet, often clear	Prime month for experienced riders
October	Variable	Short days, frost risk, early snow possible	Ride only with a reliable forecast
Winter	Closed	Snowbound high road	Use valley rides and lower climbs

Your Base Camp in Barcelonnette

For a cycling stay, choose En toute amitié or L'Intermède in Faucon-de-Barcelonnette, where secure bike storage is available. La Capitale is a south-facing town apartment in Barcelonnette, without bike storage or a garage.

Secure bike storage at En toute amitié and L'Intermède
Powerful showers after long mountain days
Fully equipped kitchen for early breakfasts and recovery meals
Fast WiFi for route checks, weather, and remote work

For a non-cycling companion, Barcelonnette offers cafes, walks, markets, and calm mountain days while you ride the high cols.

Planning a second mountain day from the same base? Pair Bonette with Col de la Cayolle for a wilder Mercantour ride.

Book your stay

Getting There

Barcelonnette is the natural base for the climb. From Les Gîtes de l'Argile, ride toward Jausiers for the northern ascent or link the southern approach into a larger Ubaye loop. For more local routes and accommodation context, see Cycling in the Ubaye Valley.