
Col de Mea
France, europe
N/A
2,486 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Col de Mea in the Hautes-Alpes of southeastern France is calling your name. This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking a wild climb up to 2,486m (8,156ft) in the Massif des Cerces range.
Think rugged – gravel, rocks, and a bumpy ride that'll test your skills. This isn't for the faint of heart; you'll need a 4x4 and some serious off-road experience. The path, sometimes more of a chairlift access trail than a road, gets pretty steep, and some of those single-track traverses have serious drop-offs. Not great if you're afraid of heights!
Keep in mind, this area is usually snowed in from October to June, so plan accordingly. But if you're up for a challenge and crave incredible views, Col de Mea might just become your new favorite adrenaline rush.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,486 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderatePalovit Falls
🇹🇷 Turkey
Palovit Selalesi is a waterfall located in Rize Province, in northeast Turkey, on the eastern Black Sea coast. The road is narrow and steep. The exhausting road is mostly paved (in bad conditions) and very narrow. It shouldn’t be attempted by those who don't know how to reverse. It’s pretty steep, and drivable in an ordinary car in dry weather in summer by confident, careful drivers. Located in Kaçkar Mountains National Park, this famous waterfall in a lush forest, falls from about 15 m high, in one of Turkey's most beautiful valleys, the Firtina (Storm) Valley. Pic: Валентина Копчева The Ultimate Guide to Traveling to Mount Davraz 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.
hardA paved road to Col de la Platriere in the French Alps
🇫🇷 France
# Col de la Platrière Sitting pretty at 2,220 meters (7,283 feet) in France's Hautes-Alpes department, Col de la Platrière is a serious Alpine adventure. You'll find it just 2.5 kilometers south of the legendary Col d'Izoard in the southeastern corner of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The 23.6-kilometer (14.66-mile) route along D902 connects Arvieux to Cervières with relentless switchbacks and narrow stretches that'll keep you on your toes. This isn't a casual drive—expect gradients hitting 12% and some genuinely exposed sections with stomach-dropping drop-offs. But here's the thing: it's completely paved, and the whole road is a Tour de France favorite for good reason. Once you reach the summit, there's a small parking area and the stunning Casse Deserte landscape. Definitely take those few extra minutes to hike up to the orientation boards for some seriously epic views across the Alps. Whether you're a cycling enthusiast chasing Tour de France history or just a road-tripping adrenaline junkie, this pass delivers the high-altitude Alpine experience you're after.
extremeWhere is Strada Provinciale 18?
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Italy's Autonomous Province of Trento, and you stumble upon the Strada Provinciale 18. This isn't just any road; it's carved right into the rock, hugging the cliffs high above the Laghi valley. Locals call it the Panoramica di Ranzo, and trust me, the views live up to the name. Just 20 km from Trento and 35 km from Riva del Garda, this 7.5-kilometer stretch of paved road winds its way from Ciago (just north of Vezzano) up to the charming town of Ranzo. It's a less-traveled route that plunges you straight into the stunning Paganella massif. Now, let's be real, this road isn't for the faint of heart. There are parts so narrow that two cars can barely squeeze by. And yes, there's a risk of rockslides – it's literally carved into a cliffside! But don't let that scare you off completely. The SP18 is famous for a reason. It's a total nail-biter, but those views! You'll be staring down at Vezzano, Fraveggio, Monte Terlago, Ciago, and Lon. Keep an eye out for the panoramic viewpoint near Ranzo; it's the perfect spot to pull over and soak it all in. Built in 1948 to connect isolated towns, the road used to be quite treacherous. Landslides were a serious problem. Thankfully, safety improvements in 2016, like rockfall barriers and netting, have made the drive much safer, but still exciting.
hardAlto de la Sagra
🇪🇸 Spain
# Alto de la Sagra: A Thrilling High-altitude Adventure Want to experience some seriously dramatic Spanish mountain scenery? Head to Alto de la Sagra, a stunning high mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,764 meters (5,787 feet) in Granada's stunning landscape. The route up is via the A-4301, and honestly, it's got character. The asphalt is there, but it's bumpy and rough in places – think rustic mountain charm with real teeth. The road's narrow and steep, with some sections hitting 10% grades that'll definitely get your adrenaline pumping. You've got two approaches to choose from. Coming from La Losa? That's a 14 km climb gaining 644 meters of elevation, averaging 4.6%. Prefer a gentler route? Start from Sila Espada instead – it's 15 km with 560 meters of gain and a more manageable 3.7% average grade. Fair warning though: this is the real deal. Hairpin curves and seriously exposed dropoffs mean you'll want to keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. If you've got passengers who get queasy about heights, maybe warn them ahead of time – the views are incredible, but the exposure is real.