Driving the wild unpaved road to Punta di Verzel

Driving the wild unpaved road to Punta di Verzel

Italy, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

1,871 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Wanna conquer Punta di Verzel? This bad boy sits way up high in Piedmont, Italy, clocking in at 1,871 meters (that's 6,138 feet!). We're talking the Catena del Gran Paradiso range in the Western Pre-Alps – seriously stunning.

Heads up: this isn't your Sunday drive. The road to the top is completely unpaved, so you're gonna need a 4x4. The views of Canavese and Serra are totally worth it, though. Aim for a trip between April and November, but keep an eye on the snow – autumn's usually drier, so that’s your best bet.

Now, for the nitty-gritty: get ready for a steep climb with around 30 hairpin turns! Not for the faint of heart if you're scared of heights. Oh, and a pro tip: thunderstorms can turn this road into a real beast, so be prepared for anything!

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Road Details

Country
Italy
Continent
europe
Max Elevation
1,871 m
Difficulty
hard

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