
Is the road to Ilgar Dagi Gecidi paved?
Georgia, europe
75.6 km
2,550 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're heading to Turkey's Ardahan Province, you HAVE to check out the Ilgar Dağı Geçidi. This isn't your Sunday drive; at 2,550m (8,366ft), you're seriously up there in the Kackar Mountains!
Think of it as a 75.6 km (46.97 miles) rollercoaster between Ölçek and Türkgözü, practically kissing the Georgian border. It's part of the E691, so you're not *totally* off the map. The pavement exists, technically, but let's just say it's seen better days - blame the snow!
The climb is no joke. We're talking seriously steep, averaging over a 10% gradient. And heads up - at the summit parking lot, you're totally exposed to the elements. Winds can whip up in a flash, and the weather? Unpredictable, to say the least. Winter? Forget about it – this pass is a snow-globe! But hey, the scenery? Absolutely epic. Get ready for some seriously stunning views!
Road Details
- Country
- Georgia
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 75.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,550 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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