
The road to Col d'Orgambide is not for the faint of heart
France, europe
11.2 km
992 m
hard
Year-round
Col d'Orgambide is a scenic mountain pass sitting at 992m (3,254ft) perched right on the Spanish-French border in the Pyrenees.
This route connects the charming Spanish town of Orbaizeta to France's D428 road, stretching just 11.2 km (6.95 miles) as it climbs from south to north. On one side, you've got Navarre in northern Spain, and on the other, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in southeastern France—the actual border runs straight across the summit.
What makes this drive special? The winding mountain road is entirely paved (with some concrete patches) and takes you through some seriously dramatic terrain. Fair warning though: this isn't a leisurely cruise. The road gets genuinely steep in sections and is narrow—and we mean *really* narrow. Two cars passing each other? Forget about it. You'll need to be the only one navigating this stretch.
But here's the payoff: those spectacular views at the summit make every hairpin turn worth it. If you're after that authentic high-altitude Pyrenees experience with stunning scenery and a healthy dose of adventure, this pass delivers.
Where is it?
The road to Col d'Orgambide is not for the faint of heart is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.4675, 2.3860
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 11.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 992 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 45.4675, 2.3860
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