
Driving the wild Puerto del Portillo
Spain, europe
18.2 km
1,250 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so you're in Spain, right? Specifically, Castile and León, in the province of Salamanca. You absolutely HAVE to check out Puerto del Portillo. It's a mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,250 meters (that's a cool 4,101 feet!).
Tucked away inside the Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park, this road, the SA-201, is completely paved. Score! Once you get to the top, there’s even a parking lot and a viewpoint waiting for you. Be warned though, it gets a little spicy – some sections clock in at a steep 11.5% incline!
The whole thing is about 18.2 km (or 11.30 miles) of pure driving bliss. And hold onto your hats, because there are 10 hairpin turns to navigate! The route runs from Las Mestas (in Cáceres) up to La Alberca (in Salamanca), heading south to north. Oh, and did I mention it's been featured in the Vuelta a España? So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 18.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,250 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
hardHow long is the road from Leptokarya to Karya?
🇬🇷 Greece
Okay, buckle up, thrill-seekers! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about the wild road winding between Leptokarya and Karya, nestled between Larissa and Pieria in sunny Greece. This fully paved route clocks in at around 25 km (or 16-ish miles), and trust me, every kilometer is an adventure. We're talking hairpin turns galore – I honestly lost count after 30! And hold on tight, because there aren't many guardrails between you and some seriously steep drops. You'll be tackling some serious inclines too, with gradients hitting almost 20% in places! But it's not just about the adrenaline. You'll be climbing high, too and you may feel as if you're rolling uphill as you traverse the Livethra Magnetic Field Gravity Hill. Is it magnetic? Is it an optical illusion? All I know is that cars – and even people – seem to defy gravity there. Head over early or late in the day to catch the best light and soak in the weirdness!
hardWhere is Dosso dei Galli?
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, adventure-seekers, let's talk about Dosso dei Galli! Nestled high in the Italian province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region, this mountain pass sits at a breathtaking 2,188m (7,178ft). You'll find yourself cruising along Strada Provinciale 345B (aka Delle Tre Valli) for about 17.4 km (10.81 miles). Be warned: this isn't your average Sunday drive! Most of the route hovers above 2,000 meters, clinging to mountaintops with seriously exposed drops. We're talking hundreds of meters down, and sometimes with no guardrails! The SP 345B connects to the SP 345 and ends at the junction with the SP 669 road, so you can tackle it from either direction. While the start and end are nicely paved, get ready for a gravelly middle section! Don't let that scare you off, though. It's totally doable, just watch out for rocks and rough patches, especially on the curves. Keep it slow (20 km/h is the limit), and remember, no passing or impromptu stops unless you're in a designated spot. The scenery is unreal, so take it all in, but keep your eyes on the road!
hardA brutally steep road to Bwlch Pen Barras in Wales
🇬🇧 Wales
Okay, fellow adventurers, let's talk about Bwlch Pen Barras! This mountain pass in Denbighshire, Wales, nestled right in the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is a proper little gem. Locals also call it Bwlch Penbarras or Old Bwlch. Clocking in at just 5.6km (3.5 miles) from Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd to Tafarn-y-Gelyn, don't let the short distance fool you. This fully paved road packs a punch! We're talking about hitting 360m (1,181ft) above sea level, and let me tell you, some of those climbs reach a leg-burning 25%! Cyclists, this one's for you—and prepare for a challenge! The west side ascent from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd is a beast, gaining 260 metres (853 feet) in just 2.25km (1.4 miles). That first half? Nearly 25%! Then you hit *that* hairpin. Oof! The east side is a bit gentler, but the real reward is that straight-shot mile-long descent after all that climbing! Plus, its location makes it perfect for linking up with other epic climbs like The Shelf and Horseshoe Pass. Get ready for some stunning scenery, but maybe pack some extra gears (and snacks!).
hardWhere is Venta del Chaleco?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, picture this: you're in the heart of Andalusia, Southern Spain, ready to tackle the Venta del Chaleco. This mountain pass is your ticket to some seriously stunning views, tucked away in the sun-baked Granada province. Think white-washed villages clinging to hillsides, rugged terrain stretching as far as the eye can see, and you're getting close. This baby sits pretty in the Sierra Contraviesa range, a thermal sweet spot where the Mediterranean breeze meets the mountain air. Hello, panoramic views! We're talking the sparkling Med to the snowy peaks of Sierra Nevada's Mulhacén and Veleta. The road itself? Officially the GR-420, it's paved, but don't expect a smooth ride. It’s narrow with hairpin after hairpin, keeping you on your toes the whole way. The asphalt's generally in good nick, but watch out for crumbly edges where the weather's taken its toll. It’s a proper driver's road. From the Benínar Reservoir, you've got about 23km to the top. It’s a climb, that’s for sure. The average gradient is around 4%, but there are some steeper sections hitting 11%, especially as you leave the reservoir behind. That distance plus the insane amount of curves equals a slow but incredibly scenic cruise through vineyards and almond groves. The challenge here? It's all about those relentless twists and turns. Your brakes and gears are gonna get a workout! Summer heat can be intense, so make sure your ride's cooling system is up to the job. And even though it's a milder mountain range, winter can bring mists and even a touch of frost up at 1,300+ meters. This road is definitely for those who like their driving with a dash of "wild," well away from the usual tourist trails.