A Dangerous Unpaved Road to Mezzaluna Pass

A Dangerous Unpaved Road to Mezzaluna Pass

Italy, europe

Length

7.7 km

Elevation

1,449 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Passo della Mezzaluna

Ready for an adventure in the Italian Alps? Passo della Mezzaluna—literally "Half-Moon Pass"—sits pretty at 1,449 meters (4,753 feet) in Liguria's northwestern corner, right near the French border and nestled within the gorgeous Parco Naturale Regionale delle Alpi Liguri.

Here's the thing: this isn't your typical paved mountain road. The entire route to the summit is unpaved, which means you'll want a proper 4x4 vehicle for this one. The narrow, rocky terrain gets seriously muddy when it rains, so timing your visit matters. Dry conditions? Much more manageable. Rainy weather? Definitely more of a challenge.

The climb starts from Colle del Garezzo on Strada Provinciale 2 and spans 7.7 kilometers (4.78 miles). You'll gain 333 meters of elevation along the way, with a steady average gradient of about 4.32%—nothing too brutal, but definitely respectable. The payoff? Stunning views of the Maritime Alps and a real sense of accomplishment when you reach the top.

Where is it?

A Dangerous Unpaved Road to Mezzaluna Pass is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.6746, 11.3916

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Road Details

Country
Italy
Continent
europe
Length
7.7 km
Max Elevation
1,449 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
42.6746, 11.3916

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