Montaña de La Altura has taxed the nerves of more than a few drivers

Montaña de La Altura has taxed the nerves of more than a few drivers

Spain, europe

Length

2.4 km

Elevation

229 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Tenerife's got a hidden gem called Montaña de la Altura de Paso Alto. Picture this: you're winding your way up an old military road, originally built for a WWII submarine base (that never even got used, by the way!).

This baby's only 2.4 km (1.5 miles) long, but don't let that fool you. The first 1.3km are paved, lulling you into a false sense of security, then BAM! It turns into a rugged, unpaved track for the final 1.1km push to the 229m (751ft) summit. Seriously, bring your 4x4, because this ain't no Sunday drive.

Speaking of the summit, it's now home to some rad communication facilities. Along the climb, you'll pass some military ruins and face some serious, heart-stopping dropoffs. Starting in La Alegria, you'll gain 193 meters of elevation, averaging a steep 8% gradient. The views are absolutely stunning, so long as you can peel your white knuckles off the steering wheel. Get ready for a wild ride!

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Road Details

Country
Spain
Continent
europe
Length
2.4 km
Max Elevation
229 m
Difficulty
moderate

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