
Pointe de Pastourlet
France, europe
N/A
2,313 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let me tell you about Pointe de Pastourlet, a seriously epic mountain pass tucked away in the Hautes-Alpes of southeastern France. We're talking Queyras mountains scenery that'll blow your mind!
This isn't your Sunday drive, folks. The road climbs to a whopping 2,313m (7,588ft), and it's a gravelly, rocky, and downright bumpy ride. You'll definitely want a 4x4 for this one, and be prepared for some seriously steep sections. Weather can be a real wildcard, especially with thunderstorms turning the road into a 4-wheel-drive-only zone – or even making it totally impassable.
Speaking of impassable, expect the road to be closed from around October to June, depending on the snow. And even when it's open, the twists, turns, and narrow sections will keep you on your toes. It's an up-down-right-left kind of adventure, so get ready for a wild ride with incredible views!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,313 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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