Pordoi Pass is one of the highest roads of the Dolomites
Italy, europe
15.6 km
2,242 m
hard
Year-round
# Passo Pordoi
Want to tackle one of the Dolomites' most iconic mountain passes? Passo Pordoi sits pretty at 2,242 meters (7,355 feet) above sea level, making it the second-highest paved pass in the entire range. Located right on the border between Trentino and Veneto in northern Italy, this legendary route cuts through some seriously stunning Alpine scenery.
The 15.6-kilometer (9.69-mile) stretch runs east-west between Arabba and Canazei, snaking between the Sella group to the north and the dramatic Marmolada massif to the south. Built back in 1904 as part of the Dolomites Road project, it was designed to connect Bolzano with Cortina and open up tourism in the charming Ladin valleys.
Fair warning: this isn't a leisurely cruise. You're looking at 33 hairpin turns and grades that max out at 9.7%, plus you'll be battling serious wind exposure the whole way. Most drivers tackle it in 30 to 40 minutes of pure concentration.
The fully paved road stays open year-round, though winter can throw some curveballs—occasional closures happen when weather gets gnarly, and heavy vehicles are banned from November through April. Summer? Expect crowds, especially July and August. Your best bet? Get there before 10:00 AM or visit in June or September instead.
This isn't just any mountain pass—it's cycling legend territory. The Giro d'Italia regularly finishes here as the Cima Coppi (the race's highest point), and a memorial to the legendary Fausto Coppi marks the summit. Add in its fascinating WWI history, and you've got a road with serious soul.
Where is it?
Pordoi Pass is one of the highest roads of the Dolomites is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 41.8851, 12.9238
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 15.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,242 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 41.8851, 12.9238
Related Roads in europe
extremeA wild unpaved road to Alto del Chorrillo
🇪🇸 Spain
# Alto del Chorrillo: Spain's Alpine Adventure Ready for an adrenaline rush? Alto del Chorrillo sits pretty at 2,691 meters (8,828 feet) above sea level in Granada's Sierra Nevada mountains—making it one of Spain's most impressive high-altitude drives. This isn't your typical Sunday cruise, folks. The journey follows Camino de los Franceses (also called Camino del Mulhacén), a wild 23.3km stretch connecting Veleta peak to the charming village of Capileira. Fair warning: you'll absolutely need a 4x4 for this beast. The road is rough, rocky, and throws everything at you—hairpin curves, steep grades, and those heart-pounding dropoffs that'll test your nerve. Alpine lakes dot the route, offering stunning photo ops if you can catch your breath between switchbacks. Winter? Don't even think about it. This place becomes impassable when the snow hits, with avalanches, heavy snowfall, and landslides turning it into a no-go zone. Ice patches are frequent, and landslides are a real concern year-round. Here's the catch: this is serious terrain. If unpaved mountain roads aren't your jam, or if heights make you queasy, find a different adventure. The road demands respect and experienced driving skills. It's steep, it's technical, and it's unforgiving. Oh, and one more thing—bicycles only are allowed to protect the national park's wilderness, so plan accordingly.
moderateThe legendary Col de la Madeleine is one of the greatest cycling climbs
🇫🇷 France
# Col de la Madeleine Nestled in the Savoie department of southeastern France, Col de la Madeleine sits pretty at 1,998m (6,555ft) and ranks among the Alps' most iconic passes. This legendary route connects the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys, a feat that took until 1969 to officially complete (though the Romans knew about this route way back). The fully paved D213 stretches an impressive 37.3 km (23.17 miles) from Sainte-Marie-de-Cuines to La Léchère les Bains, making it one seriously tough cookie in the French climbing scene. The southern approach from La Chambre is absolutely relentless—we're talking a jaw-dropping 13.5% maximum gradient that'll test your legs. If you prefer a gentler burn, the longer northern route from Bonneval offers a more forgiving slope, complete with a sweet three-kilometer descent halfway up to catch your breath. Cyclists will love the kilometer markers dotting both sides, showing distance to the summit, current elevation, and average slope ahead. The Tour de France has made this pass famous over the years, and for good reason—it's pure climbing heaven. Come summer, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Mont Blanc and the Lauzière massifs from the summit. Just keep in mind the pass typically shuts down from November through early June due to snow, so plan accordingly. Want an extra adrenaline kick? The unpaved road west of the pass climbing to Le Gros Villan (2,522m) is wild—22.41% average gradient with exposed turns that'll get your heart racing.
moderateWhere is Estrecho del Hocino?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, picture this: you're in south-central Spain, specifically the western part of Albacete province. You're about to experience the Estrecho del Hocino, a seriously stunning canyon carved out by the Salobre River between the Hocino and Navaza hills. Forget your car for this one. The old Reolid-Salobre road, once a fully paved (but very narrow!) path hugging the canyon, is now closed to vehicles. A massive rockfall back in the 2010s saw to that. Now, it's strictly for hikers only, offering a truly immersive experience. This isn’t some super long trek; the road section through the canyon is only about . You'll be walking with the river on one side and the rising canyon walls on the other. While you can drive nearby on the , trust me, experiencing the Estrecho del Hocino on foot is the way to go.
hardHow long is Gorge du Cians?
🇫🇷 France
Gorge du Cians is a very scenic canyon with stunning red rocks located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads How long is Gorge du Cians? The road through the gorges is totally paved. It’s called D28. The drive is 21.7 km (13.48 miles) long, running north-south from Beuil to Touët-sur-Var. The deep gorge carved through the mountains by the River Cians is made all the more spectacular by the deep red of the exposed rock. The river descends 1,600 m (5,250 ft) in just 25 km (15 miles) between the villages of Beuil and Touet-sur-Var. The narrowest and most spectacular part of the canyon is at Pra d’Astier, just in the middle of the two villages. How long does it take to drive Gorge du Cians? Tucked away on the southeastern part of the country, plan about 30 minutes to complete the drive without any stop. This road is one of the most famous balcony roads in France. A balcony road is a hair-raising lane cut into the sides of sheer cliffs. Located to the east of , a circuit linking both gorges makes an excellent day out, passing through tunnels, past ravines and waterfalls cut into the stunning red rock. Is the road through Gorge du Cians difficult? improved in the past to avoid the extremely tight passages and to improve traffic up to Beuil and Valberg as these villages are in winter very famous ski regions. To enable this, lots of tunnels have been dug and the famous and tight parts of the old road ( Passage de la Petite Clue Passage de la Grande Clue ) have been blocked. In year 2013 it was still possible to circumvent the roadblocks and visit these famous sections with a motorbike. Partly you had to unmount the sidecases of your motorbike – but it was still possible. These sections are not maintained anymore and now it’s simply dangerous for life to try to drive there. Partly just half a meter of the street has remained and the rest crashed into the gorges. Also, the splinters of the red rocks on the street could very soon kill your tires as they are sharp like knifes. The authorities have now blocked these sections in a way that its really impossible to drive there even with a bicycle. A wild balcony road through Gorges de Galamus in France Col de l'Iseran is the King of the Alps Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.