Gök Dağ: courage is required to drive to the summit

Gök Dağ: courage is required to drive to the summit

Turkey, europe

Length

9 km

Elevation

3,417 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're heading to eastern Turkey, you HAVE to check out Gök Dağ. This mountain pass in Van Province is seriously epic. We're talking about hitting a whopping 3,417m (11,210ft) above sea level!

Word of warning: you'll need a 4x4 for this one. The entire road is unpaved, and brutally steep. Starting near Kaymaklı, the climb is only 9km (5.5 miles), but you'll gain a massive 1,168 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of nearly 13%!

The views though? Totally worth it. Just be aware that this road is usually closed from late October until late June or early July due to snow. Plan accordingly, and get ready for an unforgettable off-road experience.

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Turkey
Continent
europe
Length
9 km
Max Elevation
3,417 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in europe

How Long is the F839 (Leirdalsheiðarvegur) Road?hard

How Long is the F839 (Leirdalsheiðarvegur) Road?

🇮🇸 Iceland

Get ready for an epic adventure on the F839, also known as Leirdalsheiðarvegur, hugging the northern coast of Iceland! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about a rugged, unpaved track stretching through the Austurádalur valley, running from Grenivík to somewhere on the peninsula tucked between Eyjafjörður and Skjálfandi Bay. Clocking in at a good length, this F Road is strictly for seasoned explorers in a four-wheel drive beast with serious ground clearance. Think massive rocks scattered like confetti and terrain that'll give your suspension a workout! Heads up: This road is blanketed in snow for most of the year, so plan your trip between late June and early September. It's a summer fling only! You'll likely have the whole place to yourself, but that's part of the thrill...and the risk. Speaking of risks, you'll be tackling a few fords. They're usually shallow, but Mother Nature can be unpredictable. Smaller jeeps beware, these crossings demand confidence and capable vehicles. Water levels can surge in a heartbeat with a bit of rain or warm weather, so be sure to check the depth and don't cross alone or in heavy rain. Remember that rental car insurance probably won't have your back if you take a swim! While the solitude can be unnerving with limited cell service, imagine yourself immersed in the stunning beauty of Iceland with hardly another soul around. Keep in mind that this road can be pretty bumpy. The scenery alone is worth the challenge!

Stocksbridge Bypass is a Top Haunted Road in Englandextreme

Stocksbridge Bypass is a Top Haunted Road in England

🇬🇧 England

Buckle up for a trip along the Stocksbridge Bypass in South Yorkshire, England! This stretch of the A616, just north of Sheffield, clocks in at a little over 6 miles (9.97 km) from Hazlehead to Deepcar. Opened back in '88, it's a crucial link to the M1, featuring a single carriageway with crawler lanes. Now, this isn't your average scenic drive. This road has earned a reputation, and not just for its importance as a transport route. Be warned: this particular section has been called a "blackspot" and even a "Killer Road," so drive carefully! But that's not all – the Stocksbridge Bypass is rumored to be seriously haunted. Construction workers reported spooky encounters from the get-go, like a ghostly monk. Others have seen ghostly children playing near the electric pylons, only to vanish into thin air. And then there's the infamous "Stocksbridge Bypass Ghost," a young woman in white who disappears from cars. Keep an eye out for strange lights, shadowy figures, and sudden chills, all adding to the eerie atmosphere!

Tossa d'Alphard

Tossa d'Alp

🇪🇸 Spain

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! I just tackled La Tossa, a.k.a. Tossa d’Alp, and let me tell you, this peak in the Spanish Pyrenees (Catalonia, to be exact) is a beast! We're talking 2,535 meters (8,316 feet) up – seriously high! The road? Well, "road" is a generous term. It's more like a rocky, bumpy, gravelly trail – a chairlift access trail, no less! Definitely not for the faint of heart (or those with low-clearance vehicles – 4x4 REQUIRED!). Think steep inclines, potential mud baths if it's wet, and maybe keep away if heights aren't your thing. Winter? Forget about it – impassable! But the views, people, the views! You're smack-dab in the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park. And at the top, you'll find the Refugi Niu d'Àliga Shelter, supposedly the highest mountain shelter in the whole Pyrenees! This climb is made for experienced off-roaders looking for a challenge and some seriously breathtaking scenery. Just be prepared!

An old military road to Lago d'Arponextreme

An old military road to Lago d'Arpon

🇮🇹 Italy

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Lago d'Arpon, straddling the French-Italian border, is calling your name from a lofty 1,830 meters (6,003 feet) above sea level. But fair warning: getting there is not for the faint of heart! We're talking serious 4x4 territory only, folks. This "road" – and I use that term loosely – to Lago dell'Arpone is skinny, gnarly, and forget about it in the winter. Think you've got the skills? This one will test them, along with your courage. If you get wobbly knees looking down, maybe skip this one. Landslides? Yeah, they're a thing. But oh, the views! Seriously, your tires will be singing with joy at the panoramic mountain vistas. Just try not to focus on the hundreds of meters of unprotected drop-offs right next to you. This old military road, carved into the Alps back in the day, is a real piece of history. Get ready for an unforgettable, if slightly terrifying, ride!