Mountain Climbing in Briançon: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

Briançon is an excellent starting point for all kinds of mountain climbing adventures. Situated about 10 kilometers away from Ecrins National Park, the idyllic town is a veritable playground for mountain climbers.

The park, which is home to the famed Ecrins massif, boasts more than 45 different mountain peaks to climb. Aside from La Meije, ascents of many other peaks are also incredibly popular. Among the top destinations are Barre des Écrins (4,102 meters) and Ailefroide (3,954 meters), which are the highest and third highest peaks on the massif, respectively.

Away from the national park, Briançon is also located just a few hours drive away from Monte Viso, the highest peak in the Cottian Alps in neighboring Italy. Boasting spectacular views and some excellent climbing, the peak is well-worth visiting if you have a few extra days.

Stunning scenery

Briançon is situated in a picturesque part of the French Alps. Ecrins National Parks sits about 10 kilometers away boasts some of the best mountain scenery in all of France. From the top of one of the national park’s various mountain peaks, expect immaculate views of the surrounding valleys and glaciers as well as views out over some of the Alps’ most iconic mountains, including Mont Blanc.

Climb La Meije

The last major French mountain to be conquered presents an incredible challenge for intermediate and advanced-level mountaineers. Well-known in mountaineering circles for the fact that there is no easy way to the top, La Meije combines glacier trekking and rock climbing for quite the adventure. Views from the top are simply sublime as well, with great views out over the rest of the Ecrins massif and national park. Make sure you have two days to spare for making this trip.

Plenty of variety

One of the many perks of heading to Briançon for a mountain climbing expedition is all the variety available. From one day ascents of a single peak to multi-day, multi-peak ascents of a few mountains, there is a ton of flexibility when heading here to climb. One of the most popular multi-peak options is taking on Barre des Ecrins (4,102 meters), Dome de Neige (4,015 meters), although there are plenty of other options as well.

During the summer, average daily temperatures in the park range from 15 ºC to 20 ºC, with temperatures often below freezing at the top of the mountains. Summer is also fairly dry, but thunderstorms can occur quickly.

Any trip to Briançon likely begins with a flight into Turin Airport (TRN). From here, the town can be reached in just under two hours by car and a bit longer by bus.

French

+33

Euro

June to September