An old military road to Dordona Pass
Italy, europe
21.5 km
2,074 m
hard
Year-round
# Passo di Dordona: Alpine Adventure Awaits
Ready for a proper mountain adventure? Head to the Province of Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy, where Passo di Dordona sits pretty at 2,074m (6,804ft) above sea level. This high-altitude pass is your gateway between the stunning upper Val Brembana and Val Madre valleys.
Fair warning: this isn't your typical paved highway. The 21.5 km (13.35 miles) route—officially called Strada del Passo Dordona and Strada della Val Madre—runs entirely on unpaved terrain from Foppolo to Fusine, so you'll definitely need a sturdy 4x4 vehicle. Since the road only opened to traffic in 2003, it's still pretty raw and rugged. Watch out for loose gravel, especially on the steeper sections that can reach gradients of up to 13%. The narrow track demands respect and careful driving.
What you'll get in return? Absolutely breathtaking high alpine scenery that'll make the bumpy ride worth every second. Stop by Rifugio Dordona near the summit for refreshments, or explore the fascinating WWI military structures dotted along the route. The cherry on top? A tunnel carved right into the rock at the pass itself, which leads to an observatory with panoramic views across Val Madre that'll take your breath away.
Just remember: winter and heavy rain make this pass completely impassable, so plan accordingly. A small 3-euro license gets you access to this hidden gem. Ready to tackle it?
Where is it?
An old military road to Dordona Pass is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.5148, 13.0152
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 21.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,074 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 42.5148, 13.0152
Related Roads in europe
extremeHow long is Bakhchysarai Highway?
🌍 Ukraine
Bakhchysarai Highway (T0117) is a challenging road located in central Crimea, running from Yalta to Bakhchysarai. How long is Bakhchysarai Highway? The Bakhchysarai Highway is mostly paved. It’s 77 km (47 miles) long, stretching from Yalta (a resort city on the north coast of the Black Sea) to Bakhchysarai (a city in central Crimea). Is the Bakhchysarai Highway dangerous? Known by locals as ‘the old highway’, the road contains no fewer than 280 turns (including a series of 30 gulp-inducing hairpin turns) and sequences of blind narrow bends. How long does it take to drive the Bakhchysarai Highway? To drive the Bakhchysarai Highway without stopping will take most people between 1 and 2 hours, but this time can drastically increase if the road or weather conditions turn unfavorable. Is the Bakhchysarai Highway worth it? The drive offers amazing views across the beautiful scenery, as it winds through forest gorges and traverses spectacular rock cliffs. Is the Bakhchysarai Highway open? The road tops out at 1.234m (4,048ft) above sea level where weather conditions are far more unpredictable and the temperature much, much colder. It is often covered by snow and ice during the harsh winter months , which will cause obvious problems for those who are either not prepared for a cold night on the side of the road or fail to adapt to the road conditions and accidentally make their own route down the valley floor, via a vertical plunge to an almost certain death. Pic: Антонина Жмуденко Driving the wild and tough Т1421 road Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
moderateCollada de les Tores
🇪🇸 Spain
Hey adventurers! Let's talk about Collada de les Tores, a wild mountain pass nestled high in the Catalan Pyrenees, Spain. We're talking serious elevation here – a cool 6,561 feet above sea level! You'll find this beauty in the northwest of Berguedà, hugging the southern slopes of the Cadí range. Now, fair warning: this isn't your Sunday drive kind of road. It's a rough, rugged track that definitely demands a 4x4. While technically open year-round, Mother Nature sometimes throws a tantrum in winter, so expect possible short closures due to bad weather. The pass handily connects the charming villages of Gósol and Tuixent. But let's be honest, the real star of the show is the panoramic views of the iconic Pedraforca mountain that accompany you the entire way. Trust me, the scenery alone is worth the bumpy ride!
hardMalanser Alp
🇨🇭 Switzerland
# Malanser Alp: A Serious Alpine Challenge Ready for something that'll get your adrenaline pumping? Malanser Alp sits pretty at 1,840 meters (6,036 feet) in Switzerland's St. Gallen canton, and let me tell you—this isn't your typical Sunday cruise. Starting from the Gigerwaldsee parking lot, you're looking at a punishing 3.5 km climb that'll test both your nerves and your car's suspension. We're talking 10 hairpin turns and a relentless average gradient of 14.14%. In just 3.5 kilometers, you'll gain nearly 500 meters of elevation. It's absolutely brutal. The road itself is gravel and narrow—no room for error here. Sheer dropoffs are a constant companion, and rockslides are a genuine hazard you need to respect. But here's the payoff: jaw-dropping views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tectonic Arena Sardona make the white-knuckle drive worth every twist and turn. Fair warning though: this is serious mountain driving. Winter? Forget about it—the road becomes impassable when snow rolls in. Plan your visit for warmer months, take your time, and focus on the road. This is one where you need all your attention and a healthy dose of caution.
moderateRoute 594
🌍 Faroe Islands
Okay, picture this: Route 594 on Streymoy Island in the Faroes. It's a total stunner! This asphalt ribbon stretches for about 13.7 km, hugging the rugged coastline as you cruise between Tjørnuvík (the northernmost village!) and Nesvík. Word to the wise, though: keep an eye out for fog and rain – it's pretty common. But hey, that just adds to the dramatic scenery, right?