From Méribel to Courchevel via the Col de la Loze
SAINT-BON-TARENTAISE
From Méribel to Courchevel via the Col de la Loze
Easy
Difficulty3h
Duration25,7km
Distance+928m
Positive Elevation-929m
Negative ElevationLoop
Course typeEmbed this item to access it offline
Amble your way between the resorts of Méribel and Courchevel via the Col de la Loze mountain pass, which culminates at an altitude of 2,304m, and can only be reached by bike! The scenery is truly breathtaking. Along the way: mountain pasture chalets, a lake and stunning viewpoints.
Description
This route meanders between the big resorts of Méribel and Courchevel, which are in turn connected to other routes. The tarmacked Col de la Loze mountain pass takes you from one to the other, along a route that only bikes can use, culminating at an altitude of 2,304m. The scenery is truly breathtaking! The north part of the route runs along a woodland trail in the shade.
Follow the blue waymarks: Col de la Loze.
E-bike rental shops :
Chaudanne Sport Méribel Mottaret
Route de la Montée
73550 Méribel
+33 (0)4 79 08 89 12
Espace VTT
Croisette Courchevel 1850
73120 Courchevel
+33 (0)6 18 08 18 41
Follow the blue waymarks: Col de la Loze.
E-bike rental shops :
Chaudanne Sport Méribel Mottaret
Route de la Montée
73550 Méribel
+33 (0)4 79 08 89 12
Espace VTT
Croisette Courchevel 1850
73120 Courchevel
+33 (0)6 18 08 18 41
- Departure : Croisette district in Courchevel 1850 OR Altiport road in Méribel
- Towns crossed : SAINT-BON-TARENTAISE, LA PERRIERE, and LES ALLUES
Altimetric profile
Sensitive areas
Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.
Black grouse
- Impacted practices:
- Land
- Sensitivity periods:
- JanFebMarAprDec
- Contact:
- Observatoire des Galliformes de Montagne
Virginie Dos Santos : virginie.dossantos@asso-ogm.fr
Chloé Mathieu :ogm.mathieu@gmail.com
Black grouse
- Impacted practices:
- Land
- Sensitivity periods:
- JanFebMarAprDec
- Contact:
- Observatoire des Galliformes de Montagne
Virginie Dos Santos : virginie.dossantos@asso-ogm.fr
Chloé Mathieu :ogm.mathieu@gmail.com
Recommandations
Rando Vanoise has been designed to help you pick and choose your outings, but cannot be held liable where they are concerned. The mountain offers up a wide range of routes and trails for cyclists of all levels, but remember, it is a living, unpredictable environment and it is important that you head out suitably equipped. Ask advice from cycle rental operators.
If in doubt, you can take an introductory lesson in how to ride an electric bike with an instructor.
If you see a herd ahead, slow down and go round it. If there is a patou, a guard dog, climb down from your bike and walk, pushing it alongside you. Avoid making any sudden or aggressive gestures towards the dog and move away from the herd slowly and calmly. The dog will only be checking that you do not pose a threat to its herd. Respect the parkland and close gates behind you after you've gone through them.
The mountain is living, please respect it by staying on the paths and tracks.
If in doubt, you can take an introductory lesson in how to ride an electric bike with an instructor.
If you see a herd ahead, slow down and go round it. If there is a patou, a guard dog, climb down from your bike and walk, pushing it alongside you. Avoid making any sudden or aggressive gestures towards the dog and move away from the herd slowly and calmly. The dog will only be checking that you do not pose a threat to its herd. Respect the parkland and close gates behind you after you've gone through them.
The mountain is living, please respect it by staying on the paths and tracks.
Transport
Train services run as far as Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bains. Find out more at: www.oui.sncf.com
You can then get a coach to Courchevel 1850 or Méribel Centre
Find out more at: www.transavoie.com
Have you also thought about car sharing?
Access and parking
From Moûtiers, take the RD915 road to Courchevel 1850 or the RD90 road to Méribel centre.
Parking :
La Croisette car park in Courchevel 1850 (free) OR Rond Point car park (free), Méribel
7 points of interest
Know-howE-bike rental shop: Espace VTT Courchevel 1850
Espace VTT
Croisette Courchevel 1850
73120 Courchevel
+33 (0)6 18 08 18 41
PastoralismPralong mountain pasture chalet
This mountain pasture chalet with its barn was also used as a high-altitude chalet by skiers between 1930 and 1945. After spending the night there, the skiers would then ascend the main surrounding peaks wearing seal pelts - La Vizelle, La Saulire and La Loze - before heading back down to the valley. Summer was the season for livestock farming, and this is still the case today.
Guided tours organised by the FACIM (Foundation for International Cultural Action in the Mountains) through Courchevel Tourisme.
Find out more from Courchevel Tourisme.
LakeBlue lake
This high-altitude lake with clear waters lies on the Loze plateau at an altitude of 2,244m. It is surrounded by myriad peaks culminating at more than 3,000m and you'll have a wonderful view over La Grande Casse, the tallest summit in the Vanoise and Savoie mountain range (3,855m). With picnic tables available, this is a perfect spot for taking your first break before continuing on up to the Col de la Loze pass.
ViewpointOrientation table with view over Mont Blanc
A little further up, along a small track behind the restaurant Le 1928 is an orientation table - at an altitude of 2,305m. This is a good opportunity to stop a few moments and take in the view over the surrounding peaks. Look closely, in amongst them is Mont Blanc!- Viewpoint
Col de la Loze
At an altitude of 2,304m, this mountain pass is the third highest mountain pass in Savoie and the connecting route between the Courchevel and Méribel valleys. A stunning panoramic viewpoint awaits with sweeping vistas over the glaciers of La Vanoise, La Grande Casse and Mont Blanc. Motor vehicles are not allowed along this famous pass - since 2019 it has been fully accessible to cycles, and is the highest such pass in Europe incidentally. It combines a woodland trail and track through mountain pastures, retaining the topography of a mountain path with its abrupt changes in slope and gradient. It marks the first stage in a much larger project aimed at making the whole of the 3 Vallées accessible to bikes along the famous "Via 3 Vallées". Steel your calf muscles for some serious action! As an arrival stage on the 2019 Tour de l'Avenir (the Tour de France for U23 riders), the Col de la Loze is an arrival stage in the 2020 Tour de France. This final, 168km stage in the mountains runs from Grenoble to the Col de la Loze. Find out more on the Tour de France website: https://www.letour.fr/ - Pastoralism
Mountain pasture
As you go, you'll come across a herd of Tarine and Abondance cows reared for the production of Beaufort cheese. Don't be surprised if you see some on the cycle track, for they have right of way too. - Viewpoint
Viewpoint towards Moûtiers valley
Just below the take-off runway of Méribel airfield and above the golfcourse is a gorgeous viewpoint over Moûtiers Valley. It's also a start point for other routes from Méribel.