
Road trip guide: Conquering Monte Chersogno
Italy, europe
13.9 km
2,411 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Let's talk about Monte Chersogno, a seriously stunning mountain pass in Italy's Piedmont region (Cuneo province). We're talking serious altitude here – 2,411 meters (that's 7,910 feet!).
Tucked away in the Maira valley, this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road to the top is completely unpaved, so you'll absolutely need a 4x4 to tackle it. Fair warning: the last stretch is off-limits to regular vehicles. Mountain bikers, this one's for *you* – but be prepared for a real challenge. It's an expert-level ride, and you'll need to be in tip-top shape. Some sections are so steep, you might even have to push your bike.
Speaking of steep, the road gets seriously intense, with gradients hitting a maximum of 16%! Starting from Prazzo Superiore, the climb stretches for 13.9 km (8.63 miles), with a whopping 1,300-meter elevation gain. That's an average gradient of 9.35%. The road ends at the abandoned Gias Vecchio mountain hut. The scenery, though? Totally worth it!
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 13.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,411 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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