
Corne de Sorebois
Switzerland, europe
N/A
2,879 m
hard
Year-round
# Corne de Sorebois: A Summer Alpine Adventure
Perched at a breathtaking 2,879 meters (9,445 feet) in Switzerland's Valais region, Corne de Sorebois is one of the country's most extreme mountain roads. This chairlift access trail winds through the stunning Swiss Pennine Alps with rocky, gravel terrain that'll test your nerve and your vehicle's suspension.
Fair warning: this isn't for the faint of heart. The gradient exceeds 30% in places, and it only gets gnarlier as you climb higher, with loose stones giving way to pure rock. Those upper sections? Absolutely relentless. The wind here is no joke either—it howls year-round and can be seriously powerful, even catching experienced drivers off guard.
Here's the kicker: you can really only tackle this in late August when conditions are semi-reasonable. Even then, don't be shocked if summer snow catches you. Winter? Forget about it—the temperatures are absolutely brutal, and the road becomes virtually impassable.
This is genuinely one of Switzerland's highest drivable routes, and it demands serious respect. If unpaved mountain roads make you nervous, this is your sign to skip it. But if you're a seasoned mountain driver craving an unforgettable alpine challenge, Corne de Sorebois delivers the goods.
Where is it?
Corne de Sorebois is located in Switzerland (europe). Coordinates: 46.5170, 8.5110
Road Details
- Country
- Switzerland
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,879 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.5170, 8.5110
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