An Explorer's Guide to Mina de Ventana
Spain, europe
1.4 km
1,699 m
hard
Year-round
Hey fellow adventurers! Have you heard of Mina de Ventana, or Window Mine? It's this super cool old mine perched right on the border of Asturias and Castilla y León in northern Spain, clocking in at 1,699m (5,574ft) above sea level.
Nestled inside the Las Ubiñas-la Mesa Natural Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve right in the heart of the Cantabrian Mountains, this road is a real gem. Just a heads-up: the path to the top is unpaved, pretty narrow, and seriously steep. Because you're so high up, expect some wild winds and crazy quick weather changes. It's open year-round, but might be closed briefly during winter storms. Definitely bring your 4WD!
Trust me, the views are unreal. If you're a nature lover, you'll be in heaven. The climb is intense, but oh-so-worth it. Starting from , the road stretches for about 1.4 km, climbing 124 meters in elevation, with an average gradient of 8.85%. Get ready to be blown away by the beauty!
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 1.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,699 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
hardWhere is Kotsifou Canyon?
🇬🇷 Greece
Okay, picture this: Crete, south coast, you. You're about to cruise through the Kotsifou Canyon, one of the island's most stunning gorges. The road itself stretches for about 4.2 km (2.6 miles), a north-south route connecting Agios Ioannis and Sellia. As you enter, the canyon walls close in, starting super narrow at around 10 meters, with cliffs soaring almost vertically to 600 meters! Trust me, it's breathtaking. The pavement's in good shape, but keep your eyes peeled for potential rockfalls – those cliffs are dramatic for a reason! And oh, the scenery? Totally Instagrammable. There's even a little parking area where you can safely stop and soak it all in. Summer's a great time to visit because the canyon offers a cool escape from the Cretan heat. In winter, a 20-meter waterfall can appear. Be warned: It can get pretty windy, so hold onto your hats (and maybe your car doors!). Seriously, though, this drive is an absolute must-do.
extremeHow long is the Scenic Road to Røldalsfjellet?
🇳🇴 Norway
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Norway's Vestland County, ready for an epic climb up Røldalsfjellet. This mountain pass tops out at 1,125 meters (that's 3,690 feet!). The "Scenic Road to Røldalsfjellet" – formerly part of the E134 and known locally as Røldalsfjellet Turistveg – is your path. This fully paved, 9.8-kilometer (6.08-mile) ribbon of road, built way back in 1884, loops off and back onto the main E134. Now, a heads-up: this isn't a highway. It's narrow, with a 2.2-meter width limit, so leave the RV at home! It's also steep, hitting an 11.7% gradient in places, and packed with eight sharp hairpin turns. Take your time, enjoy the ride, and watch out for wandering sheep. A tunnel bypasses this road now due to the treacherous winter weather. Speaking of winter, this road is a no-go from roughly October to June (depending on the weather), and it's also closed in the evenings. But trust me, if you catch it when it's open, the views are incredible! You'll be treated to stunning vistas of the Røldal and Odda mountains. At the summit, you can chill by the small, picturesque Elversvatnet lake. Plus, just so you know, Suleskarvegen is the highest road in southwest Norway.
moderateTravel guide to the top of Col des Annes
🇫🇷 France
# Col des Annes Perched at 1,721 meters (5,646 feet) above sea level in Haute-Savoie in south-eastern France, Col des Annes is one seriously impressive alpine pass. The entire route is paved, which is great news—though fair warning, you'll encounter plenty of gravel scattered across the asphalt, so take it easy through the curves. What makes this climb special is the scenery. The road winds through gorgeous alpine pastures as it climbs higher, delivering those classic French Alps views that'll make you want to stop every five minutes for photos. Starting from Le Grand Bornand, you're looking at an 11.96 km climb with 808 meters of elevation gain—that's an average gradient of 6.7%, but here's the kicker: the final stretch ramps up to a punishing 15% average. The good news? The road stays relatively mellow until you pass a golf course at 1,055 meters, where things suddenly get serious and the real climbing begins. You can typically access the pass year-round, which is convenient, though winter storms do occasionally force temporary closures during particularly nasty weather. It's one of the highest paved roads in the region, so the views and the challenge are definitely worth the effort.
easyWhere is Coll d'Ares-Col d'Ares?
🇫🇷 France
Coll d'Ares – or Col d'Ares-Col d'Ares, if you're feeling fancy – is a seriously cool international mountain pass straddling the border between France and Spain, right in the heart of the Pyrenees. You'll find it in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France (Occitania region) linking with the comarca of Ripollès in Girona, Catalonia, way up in northern Spain. The route to the top is fully paved. On the French side, you're cruising along the D115, while once you cross the border into Spain, it becomes the GI-400. Starting near Prats-de-Mollo-La-Preste, it's a climb of about 16km with a significant elevation gain – the average grade hovers around 6%. The descent? Brace yourself! Especially if you're headed down the French side, you’ll definitely want to layer up and double-check your brakes. The road is generally well-maintained. The name doesn't come from the Greek god of war; it's derived from... well, that's a history lesson for another time! Just know, you'll spot other passes in the Pyrenees with similar names. The views from the pass are incredible, especially higher up. Expect wide, sweeping panoramas of the surrounding hills and mountains. Up at the pass itself, there's not much in the way of services – which adds to the peaceful vibe. It's an awesome way to cross between France and Spain, giving you easy access to loads of other amazing routes on the Spanish side. Keep an eye out, you'll also cross a couple of other passes along the way, with signs pointing the way. If you're coming from France, you'll roll through Prats-de-Mollo-La-Preste, a totally charming medieval village. There’s a fork in the road, and I highly recommend taking the detour into the historic heart of the village – a maze of narrow streets, easy to get lost in, but eventually you'll pop out on the other side. Gorgeous views are the reward. Make sure you fuel up in Prats-de-Mollo-La-Preste before heading into Spain. Once you're on the Spanish side, the road (now the GI-400) is a bit less steep than it was in France. Downhill, use your engine to brake. The pavement on the Spanish side is generally better than the French side. Though steep, the road is pretty wide. Even big vehicles can pass each other easily. But be careful. Rest stops are scarce on this stretch.