
Is the road to Puerto de Navafría paved?
Spain, europe
23 km
1,775 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're cruising through Spain, right on the border between Castile and Leon and Madrid. You're headed for Puerto de Navafría, a mountain pass that tops out at a cool 1,775 meters (5,823 feet).
The road? Totally paved, so no worries there. But get ready for a bit of a roller coaster! It's narrow in spots, and the pavement's a little rough around the edges, which just adds to the charm, right? This beauty is known as M-637 on the south side and SG-612 up north.
The whole shebang stretches for about 23 kilometers (14 miles), winding from the N110 near Navafría all the way down to the M604 near Lozoya. And hold on tight, because this climb gets seriously steep in sections, hitting a max gradient of 10%! This climb is so epic, it's even been featured in the Vuelta a España.
So, is it worth the drive? Absolutely! You're smack-dab in the Sierra de Guadarrama, surrounded by trees and epic panoramic views. And at the summit? A ski station! Perfect for snapping some pics and soaking it all in.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 23 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,775 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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