Oisans mountain passes · Cycling
La Bérarde
An escape at the end of the Vénéon valley, in the heart of the Écrins massif, all the way to the legendary hamlet of La Bérarde.
Live weather
Real-time · Open-Meteo. The mountain top weather often differs from the valley.
Climb profile – Bourg-d'Oisans (Vénéon)
Calculated from our GPX track (IGN altitude). Segments coloured according to the gradient.
Gradient kilometre by kilometre view details
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How long does it take to go up?
Estimate based on your power-to-weight ratio (physical model, validated against real times). Indicative only.
Cycling to La Bérarde from Bourg-d'Oisans
Go up the valley of the Vénéon until La Bérarde (1,715 m), that is to enter the heart of the massif of Écrins, between dizzying gorges and glacial torrents. Since Bourg-d'Oisans, and we head through Vénosc and Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans: 31 km and 1,063 m of elevation gain averaging 3.2 %. A long, fast breakaway, set against one of the most spectacular high-mountain backdrops in the Alps.
Difficulty
The slope is soft and rolling along most of the route, punctuated by a few steep sections at 10-11 %, especially after Le Bourg-d’Arud. The real difficulty is the distance and the return journey (about sixty kilometres in total): bring water and food, amenities become scarce higher up the valley. Enquire about the conditions of entry before leaving, as the mountain road may be affected by the weather.
A shrine to mountaineering
Mythical hamlet, La Bérarde is the historical base camp for the ascents of the Meije and some Écrins. For the cyclist, it is a rare immersion, far from the major mountain passes and the crowds: a breathtaking corner of the world at the very end of the Vénéon road.
Frequently asked questions
What is the distance to go up to La Bérarde?
31 km from Bourg-d'Oisans for 1,063 m elevation gain, averaging 3.2 %: a long, rolling climb.
Is the climb up to La Bérarde difficult?
The slope is gentle, but the distance (a roughly 60 km round trip) and the altitude make it a great endurance ride.
Where is La Bérarde located?
At the bottom of the valley of the Vénéon, in the heart of the Écrins massif, at an altitude of 1,715 m.
Neighbouring cols — Romanche, Lautaret & Écrins
Route © OpenStreetMap contributors · Altitude © IGN RGE ALTI · Max gradient over 100 m : climbfinder.