Puerto de San Lorenzo
Spain, europe
10.4 km
1,348 m
hard
Year-round
# Puerto de San Lorenzo: A High-Alpine Adventure in Asturias
Nestled in the rugged mountains of northern Spain's Asturias region, Puerto de San Lorenzo sits at a lung-busting 1,348 meters (4,422 feet) above sea level. If you're looking for a proper climbing challenge, this is it—steep doesn't even begin to describe it, with some sections hitting a brutal 18% gradient that'll have your legs burning and your heart racing.
The good news? The whole route is perfectly paved on the AS-265, and it stays open year-round (though winter weather might occasionally force brief closures). Once you've conquered the summit, you'll find a parking lot and viewpoint waiting to reward your effort with absolutely jaw-dropping panoramic views.
Connecting the small villages of San Martín and La Riera, this pass has serious cycling credentials—it's been featured in the Spanish Vuelta. Coming from La Riera de Somiedo, you're looking at a 10.4 km climb with 871 meters of elevation gain and an average gradient of 8.4%. From the San Martín side, it's slightly longer at 10.6 km (867 meters elevation gain, 8.2% average), but either way, you'll encounter plenty of sections where the gradient consistently exceeds 10%.
It might not be the longest pass out there, but don't let that fool you—this is a proper mountain challenge with scenery that makes every brutal pedal stroke totally worth it.
Where is it?
Puerto de San Lorenzo is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 40.9714, -2.5499
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 10.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,348 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.9714, -2.5499
Related Roads in europe
moderateWhere is Coll de Boixols?
🇪🇸 Spain
above sea level, located in the province of Lleida, in Spain. Where is Coll de Boixols? The pass, also known as , is located on the boundary between Pallars Jussà and Alt Urgell comarcas, in the autonomous community of , in the northeastern part of the country. At the summit, there’s a little parking area with a Is Coll de Boixols paved? The road through the pass is called . It’s fully paved in very good condition, but very . Hard driving and slow in places, so give yourself plenty of time. It has steep parts, hitting a 7.9% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. How long is Coll de Boixols? The demanding road through the pass is long, running west-east from Driving the curvy paved road to Port de Tudons in Alacant The Haunted Road to Jafra: The Ghost Town of Catalonia Where the Girl on the Curve Still Appears 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.
hardWhere is Alto de Lubián?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, adventure awaits in Zamora, Spain! Let's talk about Alto de Lubián, a mountain peak sitting pretty at 1,681 meters. You'll find it in the Castile and León region, way up north. The road? Think winding and narrow, all paved but with a few hairpin turns to keep things interesting. Oh, and it gets steep – some sections clock in at over 13%! It’s known locally as Camino del Cañizo, and at the top, you're rewarded with a wind farm and some killer views. If you're up for a cycling challenge, this is your spot. Starting from the ZA-106, it's a 10.3 km climb gaining 671 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 6.51%, so be prepared to work those legs! Get ready for some beautiful scenery and a proper workout.
hardA memorable road trip to Guardia Pass
🇮🇹 Italy
# Passo della Guardia Ready for some serious Alpine adventure? Passo della Guardia sits pretty at 1,508 meters (4,947 feet) up in the Maritime Alps, right on the Italy-France border. This is the real deal for mountain pass enthusiasts. The main approach is the legendary Via del Sale—a gnarly dirt road and mule track that'll test both you and your vehicle. Fair warning though: this route gets completely shut down from October through March when winter decides to take over, so plan your visit accordingly. The scenery? Absolutely stunning. You're surrounded by dramatic Alpine landscapes that'll have you reaching for your camera every five minutes. The drive itself is genuinely challenging, so come prepared with a sturdy ride and solid mountain driving skills. This isn't your casual Sunday cruise—it's an intense, rewarding trek through some of Europe's most spectacular terrain. If you're chasing that perfect combination of history, natural beauty, and a proper adrenaline rush, Passo della Guardia delivers on all fronts. Just make sure you hit it during the warmer months and respect what this mountain is capable of throwing at you.
moderateDriving through Vielha Tunnel in Spain's Pyrenees
🇪🇸 Spain
# Tunel de Vielha Nestled high in the Pyrenees at 1,635m (5,364ft), the Tunel de Vielha sits in Catalonia's northwestern corner in the Province of Lleida. This tunnel has quite the backstory—the Aran valley used to be seriously cut off from the rest of Spain, especially when winter snow decided to block access for weeks on end. Back in 1948, they built the Alfonso XIII Tunnel, a real engineering feat at 5.24km long—the world's longest road tunnel at the time. Fast forward to 2000, and it had earned a pretty dark reputation as Europe's most dangerous tunnel due to outdated safety features. That's why they opened the newer Juan Carlos I Tunnel in 2007. These days, the old tunnel mainly serves as a backup route for hazardous cargo trucks. Today's version connects Vielha (the valley's main hub) to the Alta Ribagorça area via the N230. The fully paved route stretches 5.2km (3.25 miles) with two southbound lanes and one northbound lane, with grades that climb up to 7.5%. You can generally drive it year-round, though expect occasional closures during gnarly winter weather. Want to tackle the approaches? From Vielha, it's a 12.3km climb gaining 664 meters (averaging 5.4%). Coming from Villaler? That's a slightly easier 18.7km push with 656 meters of elevation gain at a gentler 3.5% average gradient. Either way, you're in for some serious mountain scenery.