
A curvy paved road to Puerto de Pandetrave in Leon
Spain, europe
20.2 km
1,562 m
moderate
Year-round
# Puerto de Pandetrave
Tucked away in León's stunning corner of Spain, Puerto de Pandetrave sits at a respectable 1,562m (5,124ft) and offers one heck of a mountain adventure. This pass is part of the gorgeous Picos de Europa Natural Park in Castile and León, where you'll find a cozy little parking area waiting for you at the top.
The road here—LE-2703—stretches 20.2 km (12.55 miles) between Posada de Valdeón and Portilla de la Reina, running straight through some seriously dramatic terrain. Fair warning: the asphalt isn't perfect, but it's completely paved, which is always nice.
If you're starting from Posada de Valdeón, buckle up for a proper workout. The 10 km climb gains 635 meters with an average gradient of 6.4%—though it gets feisty in spots with ramps hitting 11.8%. Coming from the Portilla de la Reina side? You're looking at a gentler 10.5 km ascent with 362 meters of elevation gain, averaging a more manageable 3.4%.
Nestled in the dramatic Cordillera Cantábrica, this pass stays open pretty much year-round, though winter can throw some curveballs your way with occasional closures when the weather gets moody. But when conditions are right? It's absolutely worth the drive.
Where is it?
A curvy paved road to Puerto de Pandetrave in Leon is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 40.9324, -3.9370
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 20.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,562 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 40.9324, -3.9370
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