A wild road to Pico de las Nieves in the Canary Islands
Spain, europe
1.4 km
1,942 m
moderate
Year-round
# Pico de las Nieves
Nestled in the heart of Gran Canaria in Spain's Canary Islands, Pico de las Nieves sits pretty at 1,942m (6,371ft), making it the island's second-highest peak. And honestly? The drive up is absolutely worth it.
The route—marked as GC-134—is one of the best roads you'll find in the entire archipelago, and it's completely paved. Starting from GC-130, you're looking at a short but punchy 1.4 km (0.86 miles) climb with some serious steepness, hitting up to 10% gradient on the trickier sections. The whole area is part of Gran Canaria's World Reserve of the Biosphere, which adds to the special vibe.
Now, here's the thing: a military base occupies most of the plateau at the top (complete with that distinctive soccer ball-shaped radar), so you can't explore everywhere. But the natural viewpoint at the summit? That's all yours. On clear days, you get sweeping views across half the island and can even spot Tenerife's iconic Pico del Teide in the distance. The sky up here has this surreal, deep denim blue that photos just can't capture.
Fair warning though—trade wind clouds love hanging around the summit, and this place gets seriously windy and wet. Pick a calm, sunny day for your visit, and you'll have an unforgettable experience.
Where is it?
A wild road to Pico de las Nieves in the Canary Islands is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 38.8378, -5.1850
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 1.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,942 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 38.8378, -5.1850
Related Roads in europe
easyWhere is Pas de la Graille?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, picture this: Pas de la Graille, a hidden gem nestled in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of France! This beauty sits way up high, with serious elevation. You'll find it in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the southeast of France, connecting Saint-Étienne-les-Orgues to Valbelle via a paved, but delightfully curvy road. The road is mostly good to go, but being steep, you'll catch only sneaky peeks through the trees as you climb. As you head down, the surface gets a tad rougher, but nothing a good driver can't handle. This scenic stretch runs for roughly 12 kilometers. On the Saint-Étienne-les-Orgues side, the climb is steady with an average gradient that lets you cruise and soak in the views. You'll hit some sections around 11%, but other parts mellow out to about 5%. Once you're out of the forest, hold on tight!
hardLago Laudemio
🇮🇹 Italy
# Lago Laudemio Tucked away in Basilicata, deep in southern Italy, you'll find Lago Laudemio sitting pretty at nearly 1,575 meters (5,167 feet) above sea level. This alpine lake is totally worth the drive up. The road leading to the summit is paved—so that's a plus—but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a leisurely cruise. This route gets *seriously* steep in sections, with grades climbing up to 14%. Your car's brakes will definitely earn their keep on the way down, and you'll want to keep your wits about you while climbing. But if you're up for a challenging mountain drive with stunning alpine scenery as your reward, this one's a gem worth seeking out.
extremeStrada degli Eroi is a military mule road built during WWI
🇮🇹 Italy
# Strada degli Eroi: Italy's Epic Mountain Road Want to experience one of Italy's most legendary drives? Head to the Pasubio massif in the Vicentine Alps, where the stunning Strada degli Eroi awaits. This 10.5km road winds through the dramatic landscape straddling Trentino-South Tirol and Veneto in the Eastern Alps, climbing 838 meters with an eye-watering average gradient of nearly 8% and peak sections hitting 12%. Built in 1922 after World War I, this route honors 12 soldiers who earned gold medals for valor during the Great War—their names are etched into the rock face along the way. The road was initially just a mountain trail, but between 1937 and 1938, engineers transformed it into a proper route, complete with the impressive Galleria Generale Achille d'Havet tunnel. The ceremonial opening on June 26, 1938, marked a turning point for accessing the summit region. Starting from a small parking area on Strada Statale 46, the road climbs relentlessly toward the Rifugio Generale Achille Papa hut, with kilometer markers every step of the way. Most of it remains unpaved (except for some asphalt hairpin turns), and prepare yourself for a shock: the temperature difference between the base and top is absolutely dramatic. Fair warning: this road has a serious reputation. Closed to vehicles since the 1980s due to safety concerns, much of it has deteriorated significantly, with cracked surfaces and loose rocks making driving treacherous. Today, it's a favorite haunt for hikers and mountain bikers seeking adventure—but it demands respect and caution.
hardHow to drive the bumpy and grueling road to Colle Malaberghe?
🇮🇹 Italy
# Colle Malaberghe: A Alpine Adventure in the French Borderlands Perched at 2,225 meters (7,299 feet) in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France, Colle Malaberghe—also called Col de Malabergue—sits right where France and Italy shake hands in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. This pass has serious history. For centuries, it served as a crucial corridor connecting valleys and moving goods—most famously, salt from Ventimiglia bound for Limone Piemonte and beyond to Turin. Fast forward to the world wars, and military forces widened and reinforced the route to link frontier fortifications across the Italian-French border. Here's the reality check: the approach is completely unpaved, following the famous Via del Sale. The surface is rough, narrow, and seriously exposed in stretches. Think slow, deliberate driving—the official speed limit caps out at 20km/h, and regular passenger cars really don't belong here. The highest sections get genuinely gnarly with uneven terrain that demands respect. Winter? Forget about it. The road officially closes from November 1 through March 31, when snow, avalanches, and ice make conditions unpredictable and dangerous. Weather can turn nasty in a heartbeat up here. But if you time it right, you're in for something spectacular. Nestled in the Cottian Alps, this raw mountain track delivers sweeping panoramas that stretch from rugged alpine peaks all the way to the distant Mediterranean. It's untamed, it's stunning, and it's absolutely unforgettable for adventurous travelers willing to take it slow.