Col de l’Arpettaz from Ugine in the Haute Savoie

Col de l’Arpettaz is a lesser known col at the southern end of the Aravis chain. It rises up above the town of Ugine and climbs up to the shadow of Mont Charvin before dropping back down to the Arly valley.

The climb proper starts in the village of Mont Dessous above Ugine on a relatively small lane. The ‘regular’ profile belies the steepness in parts along the 42 hairpin bends of the climb to the top. After a few initial kilometres in open alpine meadow, the climb ramps up through a deciduous forest offering some welcome shade in the height of the summer.