Piau-Engaly

Piau-Engaly

France, europe

Length

19.65 km

Elevation

1,870 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, so you HAVE to check out the D118 in the Hautes-Pyrénées of southwestern France! This winding road takes you up to Piau-Engaly ski resort, perched at a cool 1,870m (6,135ft).

The road is paved, but hold on tight – it's a wild ride! Think 16 hairpin turns and some seriously steep sections that max out at almost 12%!

This climb is so epic, the Tour de France has used it! Starting from Saint Lary Soulan, you're looking at a 19.65 km ascent, gaining a whopping 1,030 meters in elevation. The average grade is around 5.2%, but those last 7 kilometers? Pure magic. It's super quiet, with tons of hairpins, and you finish surrounded by stunning mountain views. Get ready for an unforgettable drive!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
19.65 km
Max Elevation
1,870 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in europe

Where is Mont Colombis?moderate

Where is Mont Colombis?

🇫🇷 France

Okay, buckle up, adventure awaits! Mont Colombis, sitting pretty at 1,734m (5,686ft), is a must-see gem in the Hautes-Alpes department of France, way down in the southeastern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Trust me, the views from the top are worth every hairpin turn – we're talking some of the best panoramic vistas in Europe! The road to the top is paved, though it gets a bit narrow in places, but generally it's in decent shape. Keep an eye out for the impressive "Demoiselles Coiffées," crazy cool rock formations shaped by years of erosion. The climb itself? It's a good one! From Remollon, it's a 12.3 km (7.64 miles) ride to the summit, climbing 1,066 meters. That's an average gradient of 8.7%, so be prepared for some steep sections – especially that stretch from 2.5 to 4 km and a tough 3.5 km right before you reach the top, where you'll be averaging over 10%! You'll be rewarded with some seriously stunning scenery.

Where is El Retamar?moderate

Where is El Retamar?

🇪🇸 Spain

Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for El Retamar in the Canary Islands! This isn't just a road; it's a climb to 2,100 meters (6,889 feet) of pure volcanic views. You'll find it snaking south of the majestic Teide volcano, right in the heart of Tenerife. Yep, it's paved, but don't think that means it's a cakewalk. Get ready for some twists, narrow squeezes, and sections that'll seriously test your uphill game. We're talking steep! This 21-kilometer (13-mile) beauty runs from Paradores Cañadas del Teide down to Vilaflor, serving up unforgettable scenery along the way. Trust me, the views are worth every hairpin turn!

Driving the Mythical Road to Col d'Aspin in the French Pyreneesmoderate

Driving the Mythical Road to Col d'Aspin in the French Pyrenees

🇫🇷 France

# Col d'Aspin: A Pyrenean Classic You've Got to Experience Nestled in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of southwestern France, Col d'Aspin sits at a respectable 1,489m (4,885ft) and has earned its place in cycling legend. This iconic pass has featured in both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, and honestly, it's easy to see why. The 31km journey from Arreau to Campan along the D918 is a wonderfully manageable climb—think of it as the Goldilocks of Pyrenean passes. The gradual gradients (nothing consistently steeper than 9%) make it perfect whether you're a moderately fit cyclist looking for a solid challenge or you want to string it together with other nearby classics like Peyresourde and Tourmalet. The road itself is fully paved, though a bit bumpy in places, and handy kilometer markers dot the route showing elevation and gradient info. If you're planning to visit, skip peak summer if you can—June and September offer a much quieter, more peaceful experience. At the summit, you'll find a spacious parking lot where you can take a breather. The scenery? Absolutely stunning. You'll be treated to breathtaking views of Lake Payolle surrounded by dense pine forests, and on clear days, the Pic du Midi observatory looms magnificently in the distance. Keep an eye out too—cattle and horses often graze near the summit, adding to that authentic alpine charm.

Where is Ovit Dagi Gecidi?hard

Where is Ovit Dagi Gecidi?

🇹🇷 Turkey

Okay, adventurers, listen up! If you're cruising through Turkey, you HAVE to check out Ovit Dağı Geçidi! This high mountain pass, chilling at 2,690 meters (that's a whopping 8,825 feet!), is near İkizdere in the Rize Province, close to Erzurum. The road itself, known as D925 (Rize İspir Yolu), is paved and stretches for about 18.2 kilometers (11.3 miles). Don't get too comfy, though—you'll be tackling some seriously steep sections with gradients hitting 16%! The summit? There's this abandoned building, probably an old bar. Gives you the creeps! Normally, you can get through year-round, but Mother Nature has a mind of her own. Expect closures and restrictions between November and April due to gnarly winter conditions. And get this: you might even spot snow in the summer! Now, here’s the cool part: to avoid the crazy weather at the top, they built the Ovit Tüneli—a massive 14,346-meter (47,067 ft) long tunnel that opened in 2018. It's a game changer, making the trip between Rize and Erzurum way easier.