Is Passo delle Erbe (Würzjoch) paved?
Italy, europe
44.9 km
1,993 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the Italian Dolomites in South Tyrol, headed for Passo delle Erbe – or Würzjoch, if you're feeling local. This baby's a fully paved road (SP29), clocking in at around 45 km (28 miles) between Brixen and San Martino in Badia, linking Val Badia and the Lüsen valley. At the top, you're rewarded with a sweet 1,993m (6,538ft) elevation, plus a hotel, restaurant, and plenty of parking.
Heads up though, this road is a bit of a wild child! Expect narrow sections where you might be playing the waiting game with oncoming traffic. And those ramps? Let's just say they can hit a seriously steep 16.3% gradient, so be prepared for a climb!
Good news: the eastern side's generally open year-round. The western side? It's more of a fair-weather friend, usually accessible from mid-spring to late autumn. Trust me, the views of the Dolomites are worth the potential nail-biting moments!
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 44.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,993 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateHow long is Road D-400?
🇹🇷 Turkey
Okay, buckle up for the D-400 in Turkey, a coastal road trip you won't soon forget! Picture this: you, the open road, and the stunning Mediterranean stretching out beside you. The real white-knuckle section is about 31 kilometers (roughly 19 miles) between Yeşilköy and the town of Kaş, in the Antalya Province. Those curves heading into Kaş? Seriously tight. Keep your eyes peeled, especially after sunset, because most of the road is pitch black at night. This fully paved road is a marvel of engineering, hugging the coastline in southern Turkey. At times, it feels barely wide enough for a single car. And, get this – in many spots, it's bordered by cliffs that plunge straight into the turquoise waters below! Is it worth it? Absolutely! Yes, you’ll need to pay attention to the road, but those stolen glances at the sea are pure magic. Towering cliffs on one side, the Med sparkling on the other. It’s a seriously dramatic landscape that practically begs you to pull over (where it's safe!) and soak it all in. Plus, you'll pass ancient ruins and incredible scenery along the way. Trust me, this drive is an adventure for the soul.
extremeGorges du Nan is a defiant balcony road in France
🇫🇷 France
# Gorges du Nan Get ready for one of France's most thrilling cliff-hugging drives! The Gorges du Nan is a spectacular canyon carved by Le Nant River, and the legendary D22 road that winds through it is basically the definition of a white-knuckle adventure. You'll find this beauty in the Isère department, nestled in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region south of Grenoble in southeastern France. The road itself is fully paved, but don't let that fool you—this isn't your typical highway. The real challenge comes along the 9.1 km (5.65 miles) stretch between Malleval-en-Vercors and Cognin-les-Gorges, which runs north-south through the heart of the action. This section is absurdly narrow—we're talking impossibly tight for two cars to pass. Once you hit the first tunnel after Cognin-les-Gorges, things get genuinely exceptional. There are zero pull-offs along the way, so you'll want to power through to Malleval-en-Vercors where you can finally catch your breath. Fair warning: glancing over the railing will make your stomach drop—that's a long way down with just a thin stone barrier between you and the abyss. Expect about 25 minutes of pure concentration to complete the drive. You're navigating through multiple gorges with a steep 3-mile descent, squeezing through a 2.2-meter-wide section, navigating hairpin turns, sharp bends, and blind curves—all while the road is literally cut into the rock face with tunnels carved directly out of the stone. Built back in 1880 when two local villages teamed up to create access to their towns, this secondary road has become legendary. The Vercors region, located within Vercors National Park, was a key Resistance stronghold during WW2, and you'll spot memorials honoring that history as you drive.
moderateHow to get by car to Heidelberger Hut?
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Perched high in the Silvretta Mountains near the Swiss-Austrian border, Heidelberger Hütte sits at a breathtaking 2,264 meters (7,427 feet) above sea level. This mountain refuge has been welcoming adventurers since 1889, when the Heidelberg division of the German Alpine Club finished construction after two years of work. Getting here is half the adventure. Starting from Ischgl, a charming ski village nestled in Austria's Paznaun valley, the route to the hut winds 13.4 km (8.32 miles) through the stunning Fimbatal via a completely unpaved road. Fair warning though—while the scenery is absolutely worth it, you're looking at a serious climb. The road gains 907 meters in elevation with an average gradient of 6.76%, so don't expect a casual cruise. Private vehicles aren't allowed on this road anyway (though a 4x4 would technically handle it), so plan your visit accordingly. Oh, and winter? Forget about it—the road closes completely during the snowy months, so stick to summer and early fall for this one.
hardCugnai Lift
🇫🇷 France
# Cugnai Lift: A Wild Alpine Adventure Ready for some serious high-altitude thrills? The Cugnai Lift sits at a jaw-dropping 2,884 meters (9,471 feet) in the Savoie department of southeastern France, nestled in the gorgeous Tarentaise Valley. This isn't your average ski resort chairlift—the road to get there is pure adventure. Fair warning: this is strictly 4x4 territory, and absolutely off-limits when winter rolls around. You're looking at one of France's highest driveable roads, which should tell you something about what you're getting into. The track itself? Brutally challenging. Narrow and steep sections with gradients hitting 25% will test your nerves and your vehicle's capabilities. The terrain is relentlessly rocky, with slippery conditions that occasionally become downright impossible. You'll be navigating what's essentially a ski piste in some sections—rough, unpredictable, and demanding serious driving skills. Before you even tackle the summit approach, you'll need to conquer the winding, narrow paved road up to Col du Pradier. It's a spectacular but no-nonsense introduction to what's coming. This isn't a casual Sunday drive through the Alps. This is an adrenaline-pumping, technically demanding adventure that rewards brave drivers with one of the most spectacular viewpoints in all of France. Just make sure your vehicle—and your nerve—are up to the challenge.