1. The Bedoin Route

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The ascent from Bedoin is the classic way up the mountain. The length of the climb from Bedoin at 300m asl to the summit at 1912m is 21.5km . This gives an elevation of 1612m and an average gradient of 7.5%. This doesn't sound too bad but when you break the climb down into its 3 obvious sections it paints a different picture.

 

2. The Malaucene Route

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Starting in Malaucene at 360m you have approximately 1km then as you pass the cafe on the right the road steepens to over 9% for 2km to 500m. Here you get some respite with a nice section of 4, 5 and 6% which is the story until the 9km mark.

Here it kicks and the gradient once again goes over 10% (with some 12%).
This is a very hard section, as you pass the water tank and the concrete shed the road swings right then left then you can see straight ahead for a kilometre at well over 10%. The road then twists slightly at a layby then a welcome rest section as you pass the mini roundabout and the cafe at Chalet Liotard.

3.The Sault Route

 

The ascent from Sault is the easiest of the 3 popular ascents. There are two reasons for this. First the elevation is much less because the start of the ascent from Sault is at a height of 694m. Secondly, the overall distance is longer than the other two at 26km. This means that the first 20km of the climb from Sault at 694m to Chalet Reynard at 1417m with a total elevation of 723m, has an average gradient of just 3.6%. You still need to climb the last 6km from Chalet Reynard to the summit but you arrive at Chalet Reynard in much better condition than if you have just slogged up through the forest from Bedoin.