
Els Cortals is a drive worth taking
Andorra, europe
13 km
2,068 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in Andorra, ready for an epic climb up to Alt Els Cortals d’Encamp! This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. We're talking a seriously cool mountain pass sitting pretty at 2,068 meters (that's 6,784 feet!).
The road? Smooth asphalt, but don't get complacent. It throws some seriously steep sections your way, hitting gradients of up to 12.5%. Even the pros in the Vuelta a España have tackled this beast!
Starting near Andorra, you've got a 13 km ascent ahead. In that stretch, you'll climb a full 900 meters, averaging out to a leg-burning 6.9% grade. The views? Totally worth every drop of sweat. Get ready for some postcard-perfect scenery as you conquer this incredible climb!
Road Details
- Country
- Andorra
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 13 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,068 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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