A winding road with steep slopes to Puerto de las Palomas

A winding road with steep slopes to Puerto de las Palomas

Spain, europe

Length

15.7 km

Elevation

1,357 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Puerto de las Palomas

Nestled in the heart of Spain's Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in Cádiz province, Puerto de las Palomas is a mountain pass sitting at 1,190m (3,904ft) that'll get your adrenaline pumping. Fair warning: there's a summit sign claiming 1,357 meters, but don't believe it—that's definitely off!

The completely paved CA-9104 winds its way for 15.7 km (9.75 miles) from Zahara de la Sierra northward toward Puerto del Boyar near Grazalema, and let me tell you, this route is *not* for the faint of heart. The road is basically a masterclass in switchbacks and hairpin turns, with some sections hitting a brutal 14% gradient that'll have you gripping the wheel and questioning your life choices.

The good news? You can drive this most of the year, though winter occasionally throws a wrench in the plans with brief closures. Once you summit, there's a small parking area where you can catch your breath—and the views are absolutely worth it. The panorama stretches across parts of Cádiz and Málaga provinces, and even peeks into southern Seville. If you're feeling adventurous, there's also a killer hiking trail that takes you even deeper into this stunning landscape.

This is one seriously rewarding drive through some of Andalusia's most dramatic terrain.

Where is it?

A winding road with steep slopes to Puerto de las Palomas is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 39.6152, -4.9052

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Road Details

Country
Spain
Continent
europe
Length
15.7 km
Max Elevation
1,357 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
39.6152, -4.9052

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