Col du Mottet South Ramp

Located in the Massif de la Vanoise, the Col du Mottet is not one of the more famous peaks of the French Alps. Perhaps for this reason, it remains something of a hidden gem among offroad enthusiasts. The pass cannot be crossed but must instead be approached from either the north or the south.

The Southern Approach: From the D 117, which runs through the Doron de Belleville valley, a small access road leads south of Saint-Jean-de-Belleville to the village of La Flachère. Shortly after the village, a gentle forest track climbs toward the hamlet of Deux Nants, where a short asphalted road branches off to the left, leading to the charming village of La Sauce, beautifully situated at 1,600 meters.
At the end of La Sauce, the Col du Mottet is already signposted, and the gravel adventure begins. In countless bends and switchbacks, a mix of farm track and gravel road ascends a barren mountain slope. The trail passes a mountain farm, crosses occasional stream beds, skirts steep drop-offs, and eventually arrives at a breathtaking viewpoint: complete tranquility, stunning panoramic views, and a vantage point overlooking the winding switchbacks below.
For those up for an additional challenge, the 2,374-meter summit of the Col du Mottet can be reached on foot in about half an