
Pico Cascuerres
Spain, europe
7.5 km
1,598 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, let's talk about Pico Cascuerres in Cantabria, Spain! Nestled high in the Picos de Europa within the Sierra de Peña Sagra, this peak hits an altitude of 1,598m (5,242ft).
Forget smooth tarmac – this road is all about the rugged, unpaved life! You're gonna need a 4x4 to conquer this climb. Trust me, it's STEEP. The reward? Views that'll blow your mind.
Hit this route from late spring to early fall for the best conditions, unless you're a snow-driving fanatic. Starting from the tiny town of San Pedro de Bedoya, it's a 7.5 km grind, with a whopping 1,045 meters of elevation gain. That's a 13.93% average gradient! Oh, and when you reach the top, say hi to the communication tower.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,598 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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