
A brutal road (20%) to Alto Llano in Segovia
Spain, europe
6.8 km
1,710 m
hard
Year-round
# Alto Llano: A Brutal Climb in Central Spain
Tucked away in Segovia Province, Alto Llano (also called Navapelegrín) sits pretty at 1,710 meters in the heart of Spain, right where Castilla-La Mancha meets Madrid. This isn't your leisurely Sunday drive destination—it's a serious mountain challenge that'll test your mettle.
The road itself is fully paved with some concrete stretches, but don't let that fool you. It's narrow and relentlessly steep. You can usually tackle it year-round, though Mother Nature occasionally shuts things down temporarily when winter throws a tantrum.
The real story starts at La Pradera de Navalhorno, where you've got 6.8 kilometers of pure climbing ahead. The average grade sits around 7.5 percent, but the summit section doesn't play nice—expect sustained stretches at 12 percent with teeth-gritting pitches hitting 20 percent. It's the kind of climb that'll have you asking yourself why you thought this was a good idea (at least until you reach the top and the views hit different).
Fair warning: this isn't a casual drive. It's a proper mountain experience that demands respect and concentration. But if you're after that adrenaline rush and incredible scenery, Alto Llano delivers in spades.
Where is it?
A brutal road (20%) to Alto Llano in Segovia is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 40.1650, -3.1712
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 6.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,710 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.1650, -3.1712
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