Is the road to Col du Cenise paved?
France, europe
14.3 km
1,723 m
hard
Year-round
Looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure in the French Alps? Col du Cenise, sitting pretty at 1,723m (5,652ft), might be your perfect escape! Nestled in the Haute-Savoie, it's a fantastic shortcut connecting the Arve and Borne valleys in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
This isn't your average Sunday drive, though. The 14.3 km (8.8 miles) route from Mont-Saxonnex to Glières-Val-de-Borne is a mixed bag. Think well-maintained gravel turning into a rocky challenge near the top! Most cars can handle the western approach to Chalet de Cenise, but beyond that, you'll definitely want a 4x4 to conquer the rugged middle section until you hit the sweet, sweet asphalt again near Parking des Frachets.
Expect classic mountain road vibes: hairpin turns, steep climbs, and a surface that keeps you on your toes. Summer's the best time to go—winter snow usually shuts things down. Keep an eye on your car's ground clearance before tackling the rocky bit. But trust me, the views are worth it!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 14.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,723 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
hardWhere is Peña Angulo?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, picture this: Burgos, Spain. You're up in Castile and León, practically spitting distance from the Basque Country. We're talking Peña Angulo, a mountain pass topping out at 735 meters (2,411 feet). Now, there *used* to be this killer old road, part of the BU-550, snaking its way through here. For ages, it was the lifeline connecting the Basque region to Burgos. Think gorgeous scenery, but also… constant rockfalls and seriously sketchy slopes. Like, edge-of-your-seat stuff. Eventually, they wised up and built a safer, modern bypass with a tunnel in the early '90s. Smart move! The old road? Officially closed. Blocked off with mounds of earth and plenty of warning signs. But here's the thing: that abandoned stretch is only about a kilometer long. It starts in a shaded forest and then BAM! You're clinging to the side of a gorge, the views are insane. You can see where they tried to reinforce things with stone walls and bolts. Thing is, chunks of the pavement have collapsed, and in one spot, half the road is just GONE. Old guardrail bits, missing signs, and broken asphalt mark the end of the line, right before the new tunnel. Basically, it's a snapshot of a road battling nature... and losing.
hardStrada Alpe Piora, a challenging road in the Swiss Alps
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Strada Alpe Piora is one seriously intense road tucked away in the northern corner of Canton Ticino, Switzerland. This 8.4 km (5.21 miles) stretch of paved road starts just north of Quinto and climbs relentlessly through the stunning Piora Valley high in the Swiss Alps. Fair warning: it's not for the faint of heart. The road is so narrow that two cars literally cannot pass each other—you're committing to a white-knuckle drive that demands serious focus and skill. With grades hitting a brutal 24% at their steepest, your car's brakes are going to earn their paycheck. The payoff? Absolutely breathtaking views of Lago Ritom as you hug its northern shore on your ascent. The road terminates at a parking lot sitting 1,926m (6,318 feet) above sea level on the southern banks of Lago Cadagno, where panoramic alpine scenery rewards your nerve. Just keep in mind that cars and bikes are locked out from 9 AM to 5 PM, so plan your adventure accordingly. This is real Alpine driving—thrilling, beautiful, and definitely not something you'll forget anytime soon.
hardWhere is Monte Nerone?
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the heart of Italy, in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino, chasing views for days. You're headed to Monte Nerone, a seriously awesome peak that punches way up to a lofty elevation. The road? It's called Strada Provinciale 15 (SP15) Monte Nerone. Get ready for 16 hairpin turns snaking up the mountain! Think dramatic switchbacks hugging the side of this limestone giant (it kinda looks like Mount Subasio!). The road to the top stretches for a good distance, climbing almost a thousand meters with an average gradient. There's a seriously steep section right at the beginning that will definitely wake you up. The rest of the climb is a fun mix of gradients, keeping things interesting. Keep an eye on the weather, though. While the road is generally open, winter can throw some curveballs with sudden snowfall. And those final kilometers? Totally exposed, meaning the wind can be a real factor. At the summit, you're greeted with a restaurant, and you'll be surrounded by a forest of television transmission towers. Worth it for the panoramas, trust me!
hardThe road to Köse Dağı in Sivas is not for the faint of heart
🇹🇷 Turkey
Köse Dağı is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.932m (9,619ft) above sea level, located in Sivas province, near the boundary with Erzincan province, in Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads of the country Set high on the eastern part of the country, the road to the summit is totally unpaved and steep, with very narrow parts. 4x4 vehicle required. Accessibility is largely limited to the summer season. The drive is rather remote. The road to the summit is very steep. Starting at Kızılmezra, the ascent is 10km (6.21 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 948 meters. The average gradient is 9.48%. Mount Karadag in Karaman: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide 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.