How long is Carretera de las Presas?
Spain, europe
23.3 km
325 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, buckle up for the Carretera de las Presas (GC-605) on Gran Canaria! This mountain road in the southwest of the island is a real stunner, but definitely keeps you on your toes.
Stretching for about 23 kilometers (14.5 miles), you'll climb from the little town of Pie de la Cuesta (325m above sea level) all the way up to Ayacata (1,304m), a cute village where you can grab a bite. That's almost a kilometer of vertical gain! The journey starts with an epic series of hairpin bends winding up the Mogan Valley, past ochre cliffs and massive boulders.
Expect a challenging drive. The pavement can be a bit rough in spots, especially the last 8 kilometers, and some sections are so narrow that passing another car can be tricky. We're talking 30+ hairpin turns, with gradients hitting 10% in places.
This route takes you straight to the mysterious Las Niñas reservoir, one of the island's largest. Legend has it that a nearby, ancient pine tree witnessed a woman being burned to death centuries ago.
Is it worth the drive? Absolutely! The scenery is incredible. However, be aware that this route is prone to landslides, rockfalls, and fog. Keep an eye out for viewpoints with parking spots along the way, but remember it can get very cold and windy up there!
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 23.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 325 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in europe
moderateDriving the tricky 570 Road around the Snaefellsjökull glacier
🇮🇸 Iceland
Get ready for a wild ride on Route 570 (Jökulshálsvegur) in western Iceland! This isn't your average Sunday drive; it's an off-road adventure across the western edge of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, and you'll definitely need a 4x4 to tackle it. Hidden inside Snæfellsjökull National Park, this road is seriously steep and the surface is covered in loose gravel. Expect potholes, blind turns, and surprise hills that will keep you on your toes. Seriously, you NEED a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle for this one. The road can be pretty rough, with plenty of big rocks to navigate. And if the clouds are low, you might find yourself driving right through them! But the views! You'll be surrounded by an almost lunar landscape that's as bumpy as it is beautiful. Don't expect to see many other cars out here – it's a pretty secluded route. So, it’s best not to travel alone. Even though Route 570 has been improved, it still feels like an F-road adventure. Google Maps might even still mark it as F570. You won't have to ford any rivers, but remember this is a mountain road, and snow can linger for a long time. This 18.3km (11.37 miles) stretch connects Arnarstapi (or Stapi) on the south side of the peninsula to Ólafsvík on the north side, running between Faxaflói bay and Breiðafjörður fjord. The views are insane, especially of Snæfellsjökull, the 700,000-year-old glacier-topped volcano. Lava is everywhere, in every shape and texture. You’ll feel like you’ve landed on another planet! As one of Iceland's highest roads, topping out at 658m (2,158ft), it usually only opens during the summer months (late June to early September). This one's not for the faint of heart if you're afraid of heights, but once you reach the top, the panoramic views of the entire Snæfellsnes peninsula are absolutely worth it.
extremeWhat’s the origin of Tahir Geçidi?
🇹🇷 Turkey
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you find yourself exploring eastern Turkey's Ağrı Province, you HAVE to check out Tahir Pass. We're talking a legit mountain pass topping out at 2,496m (8,188ft)! This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. This 25.2 km (15.65 miles) stretch of unpaved road winds its way through the Tahir mountains, connecting Aydıntepe and Güneykaya. It was once a bustling military route and part of the Old Silk Road – imagine the stories it could tell! Fair warning: "steep and narrow" doesn't even begin to describe it. Oh, and did I mention it's usually snowed in for four months out of the year? Back in the day, truckers heading to Iran considered this stretch a total nightmare, with ice-covered roads causing all kinds of trouble. Thankfully, most traffic now takes a modern highway. This means if you brave Tahir Pass, you'll likely have the rugged, isolated scenery all to yourself. Just be prepared for a challenging and potentially treacherous journey – this is an adventure you won't soon forget!
moderateShipka Pass
🌍 Bulgaria
# Shipka Pass: Bulgaria's Most Historic Mountain Drive Sitting pretty at 1,185 meters, Shipka Pass cuts right through the Balkan Mountains and connects the charming Rose Valley town of Kazanlak with Gabrovo up north. But here's what makes this route truly special – it's basically Bulgaria's Mount Rushmore moment. This is where some seriously intense battles went down during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, ultimately freeing Bulgaria from Ottoman control. Heavy stuff. The southern approach is genuinely thrilling, winding through lush beech and oak forests with a jaw-dropping 17 hairpin bends that'll keep you gripping the steering wheel. Just when you think you've conquered it all, you'll spot the Freedom Monument – a stunning 31.5-meter stone tower that's basically a giant tribute to the Bulgarian and Russian soldiers who refused to budge when the Ottoman army showed up. Climb up here and you get these absolutely stunning vistas spreading out across the Rose Valley, where locals have been growing those famous damask roses and producing liquid gold (aka rose oil) for centuries. Once you head down the northern side through the Uzana recreation area, you'll understand why locals rave about this road. It's honestly one of Bulgaria's best drives – the kind of route that hits every note: dramatic peaks, incredible views, and enough history to keep you thinking about it for weeks.
moderateWhere is Coll de Jou?
🇪🇸 Spain
Alright, fellow adventurers, let's talk Coll de Jou! Nestled way up in the Pyrenees, in Catalonia, Spain, this mountain pass is a real treat for the senses. Picture this: you're winding your way up, up, up to 1,637 meters (that's 5,370 feet!). The road itself? Well, it's a bit of an adventure. Think mostly paved, with some cool concrete sections thrown in to keep things interesting. It's a bit of a climb, and yeah, some spots are steeper than others, hitting a maximum gradient of 16.0% – get ready for those ramps! It’s fairly narrow, so maybe leave the RV at home for this one. Clocking in at 14.7 kilometers (or 9.13 miles) stretching from Bruguera to Ogassa, the journey is as rewarding as the destination. And what awaits you at the top? A parking spot with incredible views and a mountain refuge – Refugi De Sant Jordi. The refuge is not maintained, but it consists of two rooms, one with a fireplace. So, pack a picnic, charge your camera, and get ready to be blown away by the scenery!