The hardest hikes in France, by the numbers
Of the 435 trails in France in our dataset, 109 (25 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; these are the 25 with the highest rating.
GRR3 Tour du Cirque de Mafate leads with 10,216 ft of gain over 24.8 miles, 412 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 34 percent.
Across the 25, gain runs from 3,767 to 10,216 ft and distance from 8.4 miles to 26.7 miles; the median gain is 5,150 ft and the median distance 13.3 miles.
20 of the 25 are point-to-point routes; the rest are loop (4) or out-and-back (1).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRR3 Tour du Cirque de MafateRéunion NP | 24.8 | 10,216 | 412 | 34% | 1,085 to 6,417 | 711.8 | |
| 2 | Bagnères-de-Luchon | 26.7 | 7,124 | 267 | 31% | 1,649 to 3,988 | 616.8 | |
| 3 | Senda Pirenaica | 16.7 | 8,316 | 498 | 46% | 3,685 to 8,184 | 527 | |
| 4 | Strada Antica | 20.6 | 6,017 | 292 | 33% | 368 to 2,766 | 497.9 | |
| 5 | Strada Antica | 20.7 | 5,613 | 271 | 28% | 78 to 2,621 | 482.1 | |
| 6 | Piton des NeigesRéunion NP | 19.6 | 5,249 | 268 | 42% | 5,278 to 9,969 | 453.6 | |
| 7 | Strada Antica A Gravona | 18.5 | 5,386 | 291 | 24% | 690 to 4,071 | 446.4 | |
| 8 | Vallée des MerveillesMercantour NP | 18.5 | 5,367 | 290 | 66% | 5,067 to 8,371 | 445.6 | |
| 9 | Mont BlancHaute-Savoie | 8.4 | 10,134 | 1,206 | 79% | 5,680 to 15,673 | 412.6 | |
| 10 | HRP Étape 37 | 17 | 4,651 | 274 | 31% | 4,588 to 8,904 | 397.7 | |
| 11 | Étape 05 | 13.3 | 5,435 | 409 | 36% | 1,148 to 4,769 | 380.2 | |
| 12 | HRP Étape 41 | 13.5 | 5,283 | 391 | 37% | 15 to 4,124 | 377.7 | |
| 13 | Aiguille Croche | 13.5 | 5,150 | 381 | 66% | 3,693 to 8,281 | 372.9 | |
| 14 | Étape 08 | 14.5 | 4,492 | 310 | 48% | 3,082 to 7,115 | 360.9 | |
| 15 | Via Alpina Red R123Vanoise NP | 12.2 | 5,042 | 413 | 33% | 4,235 to 8,156 | 350.7 | |
| 16 | Via Francigena | 11.6 | 5,123 | 442 | 44% | 1,657 to 5,679 | 344.8 | |
| 17 | Via Alpina Red R131 | 10.6 | 5,094 | 481 | 38% | 3,336 to 7,533 | 328.6 | |
| 18 | Via Alpina Red R132 | 9.9 | 5,428 | 548 | 41% | 3,997 to 7,502 | 327.8 | |
| 19 | Étape 17Pyrénées NP | 11.1 | 4,726 | 426 | 45% | 4,982 to 8,464 | 323.9 | |
| 20 | HRP Étape 35 | 10.6 | 4,742 | 447 | 40% | 5,861 to 9,322 | 317.1 | |
| 21 | HRP Étape 33 | 12 | 4,159 | 347 | 79% | 6,289 to 9,583 | 315.9 | |
| 22 | Via Alpina Red R128 | 11.9 | 4,193 | 352 | 35% | 3,814 to 7,985 | 315.9 | |
| 23 | Via Alpina Red R129 | 12.9 | 3,767 | 292 | 44% | 3,572 to 6,080 | 311.8 | |
| 24 | Réserve Naturelle du Mont Valier | 9.3 | 5,117 | 550 | 55% | 3,048 to 8,042 | 308.5 | |
| 25 | La traversée des PyrénéesPyrénées NP | 11.8 | 4,024 | 341 | 31% | 2,761 to 6,397 | 308.2 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "France" here means the 435 trails in France in our dataset, not every trail in France.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with GRR3 Tour du Cirque de Mafate.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other countries in our dataset.