How long is Estrada Nacional 222?
Portugal, europe
21.4 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Portugal's North Region on Estrada Nacional 222, specifically the 21 km (13.29 miles) stretch from Peso da Régua to Pinhão. This isn't just any road; it was crowned the world's best back in 2015! Give yourself around 35-45 minutes to soak it all in, and prepare for a wild ride with 93 bends that'll keep you on your toes.
This road plunges you straight into the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the heart of Porto wine country. Imagine driving through terraced hillsides, vineyards cascading down to the river—it's jaw-dropping scenery at every turn. The road offers insane views over the river as you approach the charming wine town of Pinhão. It's an experience that’s totally worth it, blending thrilling driving with postcard-perfect landscapes. Just be prepared for some seriously steep climbs!
Road Details
- Country
- Portugal
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 21.4 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in europe
hardAdventure along the wild road to Starkenburger Hütte in the Stubai Alps
🇦🇹 Austria
# Starkenburger Hütte: A Wild Alpine Adventure Tucked away in Austria's Stubai Alps at a breathtaking 2,237m (7,339ft), the Starkenburger Hütte is a serious mountain destination that'll test your driving skills. This historic refuge—built way back in 1900 by the German Alpine Club—sits high above the charming village of Neustift in Tyrol, and reaching it is half the adventure. The 12.6km (7.82 miles) journey from Neustift im Stubaital is no joke. You're climbing 1,225m with an average gradient of 9.72%, and the road is unpaved, narrow, and seriously steep. Fair warning: it's rough going in winter and turns sketchy after rain, so timing your visit is crucial. Also, private vehicles aren't allowed—you'll need to plan accordingly. Here's the good news though: the rewards are absolutely worth it. The views? Spectacular. You're surrounded by the stunning Stubai mountains with their jaw-dropping collection of 3,000-meter peaks stretching out in every direction. The hut itself only opens from early June through mid-October depending on conditions, and you'll want to keep tabs on avalanche forecasts before heading up. This isn't a casual Sunday drive—it's a serious alpine expedition for adventurous road-trippers ready for a real challenge.
hardA Steep Unpaved Road to the Gotzenalm Refuge in the Gotzen Mountains
🇩🇪 Germany
# Gotzenalm: A High-Alpine Adventure in Bavaria Ready for some serious elevation? Gotzenalm sits pretty at 1,687m (5,534ft) above sea level in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, making it one of Germany's highest mountain refuges. Tucked right up against the Austrian border in the stunning Berchtesgaden National Park, this alpine hideaway is pure magic. The real draw? The views are absolutely incredible. From up here on the high alpine pasture, you're looking down at Lake Königssee—a thousand meters below—with its iconic pilgrimage church St. Bartholomä nestled along the shore and the dramatic Watzmann East Face rising up like a natural cathedral. It's the kind of panorama that makes your jaw drop. Getting there is half the adventure (and definitely not for the faint of heart). The road is entirely unpaved and winds through some seriously narrow passages with jaw-dropping steep sections that'll have you white-knuckling the steering wheel. You'll absolutely need a high-clearance vehicle—and honestly, the road is typically off-limits to regular passenger cars anyway. But if you're an adventurous driver with the right rig, the reward is experiencing one of the Alps' most remote and breathtaking mountain refuges. Just don't expect an easy cruise—this is raw, rugged mountain driving at its finest.
hardEstrecho del Infierno
🇪🇸 Spain
Estrecho del Infierno is a narrow stretch of trail through some interesting rock formations located in the province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, in Spain. The track, ‘Hell’s canyon’, is rocky and very narrow, totally impassable for 2 cars. It’s situated in the Serranía de Cuenca mountain range. It’s the actual spot where the Júcar River starts and you can cross it. No stock vehicles. This track requires low range, high ground clearance, traction aids and recovery gear. The track can be flooded away anytime, and being impassable as a result of high river crossing. Large, sharp rocks require tight maneuvering, increasing the likelihood of tire damage. High clearance, skid plates and differential lockers required. http://turyciclo.com/archivo/estrecho-del-infierno Puerto de Navalmoral, an iconic Vuelta a España climb Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
moderateTravel Guide to Col de Mahourat in the Pyrenees
🇫🇷 France
Okay, so you're up for a real adventure, right? Then check out the Col de Mahourat, way up in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques of southwestern France! We're talking a whopping 1,740 meters (that's 5,708 feet!) above sea level. Perched right on the French-Spanish border in the western Pyrenees, getting to the top is a true off-road experience. Think rocky, gravelly goodness. Seriously, this is more of a chairlift access trail than a leisurely drive, so a 4x4 is a must. And heads up: expect it to be totally snowed in and impassable from around October until June. This isn't your average Sunday drive, but the views? Totally worth it!