Çakırbaba Geçidi
Turkey, europe
N/A
2,407 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, because Çakırbaba Geçidi in eastern Turkey is calling your name! This insane mountain pass in Erzurum Province hits a sky-high 2,407 meters (that's nearly 7,900 feet!).
The road itself is paved, winding between the towns of Sındıran and Sırbasan. Be warned, though, this climb is seriously steep! Picture-perfect views come standard, but so do some potential challenges. Winter storms can make things pretty dicey up here, so check the forecast. If you're not super comfortable with mountain driving, especially at night or when visibility is low, maybe skip this one. But hey, at the top, you'll find a cool memorial waiting for you after that epic drive. Get ready for an adventure!
Road Details
- Country
- Turkey
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,407 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
easyInlandsvagen (Inland Road)
🌍 Sweden
# The Inlandsvagen: Sweden's Epic Journey Through the Wild North Ready for a real adventure? The Inlandsvagen stretches an impressive 1,300 kilometers through Sweden's interior, starting in Gothenburg and winding all the way north to Karesuando right on the Finnish border. Following the historic Inlandsbanan railway route, this drive takes you straight through the heart of Swedish Lapland and some of Europe's most beautifully remote landscapes—we're talking endless boreal forests, pristine lakes that mirror the sky, and that magical moment when you cross the Arctic Circle. This isn't a road trip for city hoppers. The Inlandsvagen is pure wilderness, pulling you deep into Sweden's untamed heart. You'll roll through Jokkmokk, the Sami cultural hub where a legendary winter market has been going strong since 1605, and pass through Gallivare, an atmospheric old mining town frozen in time. Around Jokkmokk, there's even a roadside marker celebrating your Arctic Circle crossing—a perfect photo op. The experience shifts dramatically depending on when you visit. Summer transforms the region into something almost otherworldly, with the midnight sun refusing to set and bathing the landscape in endless daylight. Winter? That's a completely different beast—deep snow blankets everything, and if you're lucky, the northern lights put on a show that'll leave you speechless. Wildlife watchers will be thrilled: moose, reindeer, bears, and wolverines all call these forests home. Driving the Inlandsvagen is less about getting somewhere fast and more about soaking in the meditative rhythm of one of Europe's last true wilderness routes.
moderateCol de Barteaux
🇫🇷 France
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Col de Barteaux in the Hautes-Alpes of southeastern France is calling your name—if you're up for a bit of a rugged ride. We're talking a lofty 2,384m (7,821ft) above sea level, nestled right in the heart of the Alps. Now, this isn't your Sunday cruise kind of road. Expect gravel, rocks, and a seriously bumpy, tippy surface that'll test your off-road skills. You'll absolutely need a 4x4 for this one. And keep in mind, this pass is usually snowed in from October to June, so plan your trip accordingly! Starting near the D234T road, close to Station de Ski Ghisoni, it's a short but sweet 1.9 km climb, with seriously rewarding views waiting for you at the top!
moderateIs the road to Monte Farelo paved?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, adventure awaits in Galicia, Spain! Monte Farelo, sitting pretty at 948m (3,110ft), straddles the Lugo and Pontevedra provinces and is calling your name. Heads up: this isn't your average smooth highway. The road to the top (locals call it O Farelo) is mostly unpaved, adding a bit of off-road spice to your journey! Think wind farm service roads that are open to the public. The payoff? Seriously amazing views. Picture this: you, surrounded by the terrain of all four Galician provinces. Breathtaking! The whole shebang is about 10.9 km (6.77 miles), winding from Antas de Ulla to Ventosa. Nestled way up in the Serra do Faro range, it's usually open year-round, but keep in mind this area gets its fair share of rain and snow, so be prepared for anything.
extremeWhere is the Devil's Staircase in Wales?
🇬🇧 Wales
Okay, buckle up, road trip lovers! We're heading to the heart of Wales to tackle the infamous Devil's Staircase! This beast of a road winds through the Cambrian Mountains, stretching about 16.5 miles between the tiny hamlet of Abergwesyn and the town of Tregaron. Seriously, you'll feel like you've reached the edge of the earth out here. The road itself, officially known as Abergwesyn Road, is a single-track adventure. Prepare for ridiculously narrow sections, hairpin turns that’ll make your head spin, and a surface that can get a bit… rustic, let’s say. Gravel patches? Oh yeah. Not for the faint of heart, especially if squeezing past another car on a mountain road gives you the jitters. The "Devil's Staircase" part? That’s the real challenge: a series of hairpin turns with ramps hitting a max gradient of 20.1%! Seriously steep! This climb leads to the Abergwesyn Pass, taking you through conifer forests and opening up to these incredible, wide-open valleys dotted with sheep. Just remember, what goes up must come down, so be ready to test those brakes! A word of warning: keep an eye out for two bridges just before the Devil's Staircase itself. After heavy rain, they can disappear underwater! Usually, this epic drive is pretty peaceful during the week, but it can get buzzing on weekends.