Is the Road to Pico el Puntal paved?
Spain, europe
14.9 km
1,286 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you find yourself kicking around the Almería province of Andalusia in southern Spain, you HAVE to check out Pico el Puntal. This beast of a peak tops out at 1,286 meters (that's 4,219 feet!), and it's nestled right in the Sierra Alhamilla Natural Park, practically hugging the Tabernas Desert – Spain’s driest and sunniest spot.
Now, getting there is half the fun... or maybe the whole fun, depending on your perspective! The road? Well, let’s just say it’s seen better days. Think broken asphalt and enough potholes to swallow a small car. Seriously, a high-clearance vehicle or SUV is your best friend here.
The road stretches for nearly 15 kilometers (9.2 miles) from the N-340a near Mini Hollywood, and let me tell you, the scenery is epic. You'll wind your way through the same desert landscapes where legends like *The Good, the Bad and the Ugly* were filmed. As you climb, the views over the Tabernas Desert just keep getting better and better. The road ends by the communication towers at the very top.
Don’t think it’s going to be a leisurely cruise though. You're looking at a 985-meter climb with an average gradient of 6.6%, but there are sections that are much steeper. Get ready to work that engine and keep an eye on your traction on the rough road surface.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 14.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,286 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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