
Pic d'Espadà
Spain, europe
7.4 km
915 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, listen up! You absolutely HAVE to check out Pic d'Espadà in eastern Spain. Nestled inside the Serra d'Espadà Natural Park in Valencia, this mountain pass climbs to a cool 915 meters (that's over 3,000 feet!).
The route, known as Camino de Ibola, is a wild 7.4-kilometer ride that throws a bit of everything at you. Think mostly gravel, with some paved sections popping up on the really steep bits and around some seriously tight turns.
Speaking of challenging, this road is no joke. It’s steep, narrow, and can be a real test of your driving skills. A 4x4 is HIGHLY recommended, and forget about it after heavy rains – you'll be stuck. But hey, the views? Totally worth it.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 915 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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