Climbing Road Trip: From Ötztal to Céüse!

Climbing Road Trip – We drove our campervan from Ötztal in the Austrian Alps to Céüse in France. You'll find the most beautiful and exciting climbing routes, practical campsites for your motorhome, and some tips for rest days and meals in this blog post! Let our campervan journey inspire you!

Climbing Road Trip: Contents

What is a climbing road trip?
How to best prepare for a climbing road trip?
Which campervan is suitable?
Climbing Road Trip: From Ötztal to Céüse
Conclusion: Climbing Road Trip

What is a climbing road trip?

You, your climbing partners, your gear, and your campervan. To improve your climbing skills, you need to leave your usual surroundings and comfort zone. A climbing road trip allows you to test your abilities on a variety of different climbing routes in a short amount of time.

How to best prepare for a climbing road trip?

Every trip with a campervan or motorhome requires basic equipment like power cables, adapters, and a broom. Our climbing road trip route often took us away from tourist centers. Therefore, we'd also recommend a complete kitchen set so you can always cook for yourself. Here you'll find our packing list checklist.

Which campervan is suitable for a climbing road trip?

From dawn till dusk – all day on the rock. Then winding down the evening with spaghetti bolognese and a campfire with new acquaintances. We were glad we had a fully equipped campervan for our climbing road trip. After long, strenuous days, a hot shower was heavenly. Even on warm days, the outside temperature was quite cool, and we turned on the auxiliary heater to warm up the entire campervan.

We were often on the rocks all day, from early morning until late. In the evenings, we sat comfortably by the campfire with freshly cooked spaghetti bolognese and new friends. We were grateful to have a fully equipped campervan. This allowed us to camp self-sufficiently for several days, and a hot shower after a long, strenuous day was not uncommon!

Climbing Road Trip: 1st Stop Austria

We had wanted to do a road trip for a long time, focusing solely on the sport, with a few rest days in between, of course. We started our motorhome journey in Austria. After that, we drove to Switzerland, France, and Italy.

Haiming Geierwand

A beautiful wall with many moderately difficult multi-pitch routes, accessible all year round. However, it can get very hot in summer. Don't forget your helmet!

Routes: 27
Difficulty: 5c – 6c+
Parking: In the parking lot after the Raftingalm.
Best season: March to June; September, October

Engelswand

The Tumpen climbing garden offers a diverse range of routes, making it one of Tyrol's most attractive climbing areas. The right side of the wall is particularly suitable for beginners. There's something for everyone at Engelswand.

Routes: 74
Difficulty: 3b – 8a+
Approach time: 15 min
Parking: Paid parking
Best season: May to September

Niederthai

Cracks, corners, steep slabs, and overhangs. The hidden boulders in the deep forest are extremely varied. The difficulty levels are predominantly in the medium to upper grades. Beginners, however, will hardly find anything suitable here.

Routes: 124
Difficulty: 5a – 8a+
Approach time: 15 min
Parking: At the marked parking lot for the "Wiesle" guesthouse.
Best season: April to September

Längenfeld / Nösslach

Hidden among spruce trees, an unassuming climbing garden first appears. The good rock quality, cool shade thanks to the trees, and numerous multi-pitch routes allow for enjoyable climbing.

Routes: 71
Difficulty: 5a – 8a+
Approach time: 15 min
Parking: Directly in front of the sewage treatment plant on the left side by the chapel.
Best season: May to October

Climbing Road Trip: 2nd Stop Switzerland

Voralp Climbing Garden

The Voralp climbing garden is located above Lake Voralp in a primeval forest landscape. Beginners will not find a suitable route here, as the entire wall is consistently overhanging. Extremely difficult individual sections demand enormous endurance! Are you looking for a challenge amidst breathtaking nature? Then you've come to the right place.

Routes: 23
Difficulty: 7a – 8a+
Approach time: 25 min
Parking: Paid parking
Best season: May to October

Magic Wood

One of the best and most famous bouldering areas in the world. Countless granite boulders scattered in a mystical pine forest next to a rushing river. A climber could hardly imagine anything more beautiful.

Routes: 23
Difficulty: 7 – 8
Approach time: 25 min
Camping: Bodhi Camping
Best season: May to October

Climbing Road Trip: 3rd Stop France

Climbing Road Trip: Briançon

Climbing in Briançon, right in the heart of the Alps, is a dream for many climbers. Cool climbing conditions on the rock and warm, sunny rest days by the nearby lake. The Briançon climbing area offers numerous climbing spots like Entraygues and Ailefroide for sport climbing, multi-pitch, and bouldering routes to discover.

Entraygues

Sectors one and two are very rewarding here. This climbing area isn't huge, but it offers beautiful, powerful, and sometimes very short crimpy climbing. The rock is very cool and easily accessible with children. This climbing area is recommended for climbers between French grades 7 and 8.

Routes: 23
Difficulty: 6a+ – 8c+
Approach time: 5 min
Parking
Camping: Camping Du Lac
Best season: May to October

Ailefroide

One of the largest climbing areas in France is Ailefroide, with 25 sectors. Thanks to short, easy approaches and the conditions on the rock, the climbing area is also very family-friendly. Starting from French grade 3 up to 8, you can also travel here with beginners. The "Face bouc" sector is highly recommended for advanced climbers in French grades 7-8.

25 sectors with 582 routes
Camping: Camping d'Ailefroide
Best season: May to October

Rue des Masques

A very popular climbing area near Briançon. Rue des Masques is very suitable for summer, as the conglomerate rock walls provide plenty of shade.

Routes: 11
Difficulty: 5b – 8b+
Approach time: 5 min
Parking
Best season: April to September

Climbing Road Trip: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Most of the French landscape in Provence consists of the Provence Alps, stretching north from Avignon to Toulon and west to Gap. There are numerous climbing areas between Avignon, Toulon, and Castellane, as well as in the higher regions around Gap.

Céüse

The limestone cliffs of Céüse are among the most popular climbing areas in France and Europe. The limestone slopes on the southeast face are up to 200 meters high and offer excellent crack, crimp, and tufa climbing. A must for climbers from all over the world. The most difficult and famous route in this area is Realization, first climbed by Chris Sharma in 2001, with a difficulty of "9a+". However, there are also easier routes starting from 5c (6), but you need to be able to climb a strong 7b to have fun in this climbing area in France. Furthermore, the difficulty is quite challenging, and the bolt spacing is wide.

Routes: 195
Difficulty: 5c – 9a+
Approach time: 1 h
Parking: There's a campsite just before Col de Guerins
Best season: May to September

La Saume

At over 2000 meters above sea level, the north-facing part of La Saume offers everything a climber's heart desires, from difficult slabs in the first pitches to technical wall climbing up to 8c.

We parked at the foot of the mountain and ascended to the summit. We were not disappointed. Before us lay a rock massif consisting exclusively of excellent compact limestone.

Routes: 50
Difficulty: 6b – 8c
Approach time: 1 h
Parking: At the foot of the mountain
Best season: May to September

Climbing Road Trip: 4th Stop Italy

Massone

The Massone climbing area is located north of Lake Garda, above the Arco region of the same name. This southeast-facing limestone cliff is home to one of Italy's largest, most famous, and most frequently climbed limestone crags. You can even climb in the higher sections when it rains.

Definitely avoid holidays like Easter, Pentecost, and the period around Rockmaster. The Massone climbing area gets hopelessly overcrowded, and the climbing rock is therefore already polished in many places.

Routes: 120
Difficulty: 6a – 9+
Approach time: 5 min
Parking: Parking lot below the climbing garden
Best season: March to November

Sulle Tracce Di Dario

Sulle Tracce di Dario is a beautiful route that gets progressively harder as you ascend. On the difficult sections, where it's easier, you can get good assistance from small to medium-sized companions. The route has many steep climbing sections, but they are rarely truly overhanging. In the 7th grade, there's a fantastic line that should be on your list for a climbing road trip in Arco.

Routes: 120
Difficulty: 6a – 9+
Approach time: 15 min
Parking: Parking lot below the climbing garden
Best season: March to October

Conclusion: Climbing Road Trip

Climbing road trip through Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy. We are thrilled with how well the motorhome trip worked out! We experienced a whole new level of freedom and independence on this road trip. The perfect synergy between climbing and traveling with a motorhome. We recommend consciously taking a rest day sometimes. You could jump into a swimming lake or take a book and lie in the sun. The rocks and mountains aren't going anywhere – even if it rains, consciously enjoy your time in the motorhome! We hope we could give you some helpful tips and inspiration for your next climbing road trip.