Motorcycle Ride Planner · Routes · France

Col d'Izoard & Casse Déserte

France · D902

One of the most visually extraordinary passes in the French Alps, cresting at 2,360m (7,743 ft). The southern descent traverses the legendary Casse Déserte: an eerie, barren amphitheater of crumbling scree slopes studded with grotesque yellow weathered gypsum pinnacles. Toll-free. Closed late October to late May. Features smooth, flowing rhythm through the larch forests of Briançon before opening into dramatic high-alpine hairpin terraces.

Col d'Izoard & Casse Déserte runs 28 miles between Briançon, Hautes-Alpes, France and Guillestre, Hautes-Alpes, France. We count about 160 corners along it, which is consistently bendy. Committed riding: real corners, real consequences.

Tank-bag quick reference

• StartBriançon, Hautes-Alpes, France44.8967, 6.6433
• High3,280 ft - 7,743 ft (2,360m Col d'Izoard)elevation range
• EndGuillestre, Hautes-Alpes, France44.6603, 6.6492

T-CLOCS before you go: tyres and wheels, controls and cables, lights and electrics, oil and fluids, chassis and stand.

Repair within reach

• 51 miDafy Moto Grenoble (Saint-Martin-d'Hères)Grenoble, France
• 55 miMoto Axxe AlbertvilleAlbertville, France

Straight-line distance from the start of the route, not driving distance.

More in France

• Route des Grandes Alpes (Geneva to Mediterranean Spine)440 mi · 2400 corners
• Col de la Bonette & Cime Loop (2,802m)31 mi · 190 corners
• Col d'Aubisque & Cirque du Litor Shelf Road29 mi · 170 corners
• Gorges du Verdon & Route des Crêtes (D23 Canyon Rim)32 mi · 160 corners
• Col du Galibier & Col du Télégraphe26 mi · 155 corners
• Col de l'Iseran20 mi · 130 corners

Questions riders ask

How long does Col d'Izoard & Casse Déserte take to ride?

About 28 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.

Where does Col d'Izoard & Casse Déserte start and end?

It runs between Briançon, Hautes-Alpes, France and Guillestre, Hautes-Alpes, France. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.

Is Col d'Izoard & Casse Déserte a twisty road?

We count about 160 corners across 28 miles, which is consistently bendy.

Is there a GPX file for Col d'Izoard & Casse Déserte?

Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.

Where these numbers come from

Distances and corner counts come from the route's own geometry, not from ratings or votes. Nothing here is crowdsourced and nobody paid to appear.