When do the Pyrenean cols open? The snow-clearing calendar
Every spring, the same question: "is the col open?". Here are the usual reference dates — and above all, the live status of every col is shown on its page (source: departmental road services, updated hourly).
The usual calendar
- Open almost all year round: the foothill and Basque Country cols (Osquich, Ares, Ichère, Port) — beware of morning black ice in winter;
- April–May: the mid-mountain cols open as the snow is cleared: Marie-Blanque, Aspin, Peyresourde, Menté;
- Mid-May to early June: the giants (Tourmalet, Aubisque (often the last one in the Béarn), Pailhères, Puymorens;
- June: the high-altitude dead-end roads (Troumouse, col des Tentes, col de Portet;
- Late October–November: first closures, usually final after the first heavy snowfalls.
These dates vary by several weeks depending on the winter's snowpack. A Tour de France visit
sometimes speeds up the clearing of a col… and closes the road on the big day!
Riding in spring: the traps
- "Open" road does not mean "dry" road: winter gravel in the bends, runoff water, snow walls melting onto the tarmac;
- The summit is another world: 0 °C and strong wind up there are common in May when it's 20 °C in the valley: look at the summit weather on the climb page, not the valley forecast;
- Tunnels and avalanche galleries stay wet and dark — a rear light is no luxury.
Where to check?
Every climb page on this site shows the live road status (open / special conditions / closed) and the "Latest road news" section of the map (in French) lists closures, roadworks and gravel reported by the six departmental road services. Have a great season!