An old military road to Fort de Dormillouse

An old military road to Fort de Dormillouse

France, europe

Length

9.8 km

Elevation

2,480 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: you're in the French Alps, specifically the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in the gorgeous Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. You're headed up to Fort de Dormillouse, an old military fortress perched way up high at 2,480 meters (that's over 8,000 feet!).

This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. The road is a super-old military track, and let me tell you, it's all dirt – totally unpaved. Plus, it's usually snowed in from late October until almost July, so plan your trip accordingly!

The climb starts in Le Lauzet-Ubaye, and it's a beast. You're looking at about 9.8 kilometers (just over 6 miles) of seriously steep uphill driving. We're talking an elevation gain of 1,572 meters with an average gradient of 16%! But the views? Totally worth it. And the best part? There's a restaurant at the top to reward yourself after that epic climb!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
9.8 km
Max Elevation
2,480 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in europe

Where is Col d'Allos?hard

Where is Col d'Allos?

🇫🇷 France

Okay, picture this: the Col d'Allos, a seriously high mountain pass nestled way up in the French Alps. We're talking 2,250 meters (that's 7,382 feet!) above sea level, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. You'll find it in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, chilling west of the Parc National du Mercantour. This pass has some history! Built back in 1891, supposedly to defend against potential Italian and German attacks, so it's got a story to tell. Now, getting there...the D908 is completely paved, but let's be real, it's not exactly smooth sailing. Think bumpy surfaces, hairpin turns galore, and a road that feels a little narrow at times. Definitely not for the faint of heart, especially with those dramatic drop-offs! Caravan and truck drivers, consider yourselves warned. It's STEEP too – hitting a maximum gradient of 9% in places. It's a Tour de France favorite, so you know it's intense. The whole pass stretches for about 39.1 km (24.29 miles), connecting Colmars-les-Alpes and Barcelonnette in a south-north direction. But trust me, it's worth the trek! At the summit, you'll find a parking area and a mountain refuge (Refuge du Col d'Allos). Keep your eyes peeled along the way for marmots, sheep, and cows just living their best lives in the fields. Heads up: the road is usually closed from October to July due to snow. And if you're planning a visit in July or August, Friday mornings are reserved for cyclists. Oh, and if you're feeling extra adventurous, there's a minor gravel road south of the pass that climbs up to a mountain peak at 2,350m (7,709ft). Get ready for some incredible views!

GC-210 is the Fast&Furious road on Canary Islandsextreme

GC-210 is the Fast&Furious road on Canary Islands

🇪🇸 Spain

# The GC-210: Gran Canaria's Most Thrilling Mountain Drive Ready for an adrenaline rush? Head to the central highlands of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Spain, and tackle the legendary GC-210—often called the loneliest road on the island and one of the most exhilarating drives you'll ever experience. This 34.4 km (21.37 miles) ribbon of asphalt winds from La Aldea de San Nicolas de Tolentino to Tejeda, passing through Artenara—the island's highest village at 1,270m (4,167ft) and steeped in centuries of history. The road climbs to 1,378m (4,520ft) at its peak, gaining elevation fast with an average gradient of 4%, with some sections hitting a steep 9%. You'll navigate 32 hairpin turns through a jagged, moon-like rocky landscape that feels utterly remote and untouched. Here's the thing: this road is *not* for the faint of heart. It's desperately narrow in places—barely wide enough for two cars to pass—with virtually no traffic, crumbling asphalt that loses grip when wet, and zero cellphone signal for most of the drive. Landslides and sudden downpours are real concerns. Your brake pads will be screaming, and the intensity will push even experienced drivers to their limits. But the payoff? Absolutely stunning vistas. You'll feast on panoramic views of two dramatic reservoir dams—Presa Caidero de la Niña and Presa del Parralillo—set against the most otherworldly terrain. Most drivers complete the route in 1 to 1.5 hours (if they can resist stopping constantly to snap photos). Fair warning: this road is famously challenging, so respect it. But if you're after adventure and scenery that'll take your breath away, the GC-210 delivers in spades.

Kartala Resortmoderate

Kartala Resort

🌍 Bulgaria

Alright, adventure seekers, let's talk about Kartala! Nestled in the Blagoevgrad Province of southwestern Bulgaria, this ski resort sits pretty at 1,453m (4,767ft). The road up? Oh, it's a charmer. Picture this: smooth asphalt winding its way along the Bistritza river, with stunning mountain views that just keep getting better. Starting in Blagoevgrad, you've got a 27.4 km climb ahead of you, gaining a whopping 1063 meters in elevation. It's a steady uphill trek with an average gradient of 3.87%, so nothing too crazy, but enough to keep things interesting!

Bistra Lakehard

Bistra Lake

🌍 Macedonia

Bistra Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.827m (5,994ft) above the sea level, located in the mountainous region of northwestern Republic of North Macedonia. The road to the summit, located on the slopes of Bistra mountain in Mavrovo National Park, is totally unpaved. The road is usually impassable in winters. Great trail for experienced wheelers. Open to all motorized vehicles, however, strongly recommended for high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicles. The road is very rough--only try driving it in a 2wd car, if you're planning to buy a new car. At the lake (south direction) is a small gravel road winding its way up to 2.089m (6,853ft) above the sea level. It’s  one of the highest roads of the country. Expect a trail pretty steep. Wet conditions may make for tough driving along the muddy road.  Driving the wild road to Stogovo 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.