El Coscollet

El Coscollet

Spain, europe

Length

15 km

Elevation

599 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for El Coscollet! This bad boy is nestled high in the Serra d'Aubenç i Roc de Cogul range in Catalonia, Spain, chilling at a cool 1,609m (5,278ft). The views from the top? Absolutely breathtaking!

Now, getting there is half the fun…if you're into that kind of thing! The 15 km road kicks off from the L-511 road at 599m and climbs a whopping 1,010 meters, averaging a pretty intense 6.73% gradient. Translation: it's STEEP. Also, forget smooth tarmac – we're talking gravel, rocks, and plenty of bumps. This is NOT a drive for the faint of heart or those precious low-riders. A 4x4 is a must, and a good head for heights wouldn’t hurt either. If unpaved mountain roads aren't your forte, maybe skip this one. But if you're up for a challenge and some seriously epic scenery, El Coscollet is calling your name!

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Road Details

Country
Spain
Continent
europe
Length
15 km
Max Elevation
599 m
Difficulty
hard

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