
Dare to drive the dangerous Road SH-21
Albania, europe
55.5 km
1,691 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure awaits on SH21, a mind-blowing mountain road tucked away in northern Albania! Get ready to conquer the legendary Thore Pass.
You'll find this beauty snaking through Shkodër County, right in the northwest corner of Albania, inside the stunning Theth National Park.
Clocking in at 55.5km (or 34.4 miles for my American friends), this road cruises from Koplik (the main hub of Malësi e Madhe District) to the charming village of Theth, further east in Shkodër District.
Originally built way back in 1936, this scenic route got a major glow-up in September 2021 with a full paving. Talk about an upgrade!
Perched high in the Albanian Alps, this road peaks at the Thore Pass, a lofty 1,691m (5,547ft) above sea level. Fair warning: it's usually snowed in from November to May.
Now, let's be real: this road's a bit of a wild ride. Expect narrow sections (though the new pavement helps!), seriously steep inclines (up to 15%!), and some dizzying drop-offs. Not for the faint of heart, but if you're not scared of heights, you're golden. Just maybe skip it on a busy Sunday afternoon.
Where is it?
Dare to drive the dangerous Road SH-21 is located in Albania (europe). Coordinates: 40.8256, 20.2387
Road Details
- Country
- Albania
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 55.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,691 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.8256, 20.2387
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