Driving One of the Steepest Roads in Europe to Llano de las Animas
Spain, europe
3 km
2,036 m
extreme
Year-round
# Llano de las Ánimas: La Palma's Brutal Mountain Beast
Want to test your driving skills? Head to the Canary Islands and tackle Llano de las Ánimas, a seriously gnarly high mountain plateau sitting at 2,036m (6,679ft) that'll make your palms sweat and your legs burn.
This road is absolutely relentless. Starting from Puntagorda, you're looking at a 7.6 km (4.72 miles) slog that climbs a jaw-dropping 1,252m with an average gradient of 16.47%. But here's the kicker—the final 3 km? That's where things get absolutely mental, with gradients hitting 19-20%. Yeah, some say it's one of Europe's steepest roads, and honestly, the numbers don't lie.
Located in the western part of La Palma in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the plateau sits just west of the iconic Roque de los Muchachos. The good news? The entire road is paved. The catch? The last 3 km narrow to a concrete ribbon that cuts through a firewall, and "narrow" doesn't even begin to describe it. You'll be white-knuckling through some of the tightest, steepest switchbacks imaginable.
At the summit, there's a water raft waiting to greet you—a nice reward for conquering one of the most brutal climbs you'll encounter anywhere. If you're into extreme driving experiences, this one's a must-do. Just bring your A-game and nerves of steel.
Where is it?
Driving One of the Steepest Roads in Europe to Llano de las Animas is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 40.9014, -3.1426
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 3 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,036 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 40.9014, -3.1426
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