The road to Sobrón Alto is not for the sissies

The road to Sobrón Alto is not for the sissies

Spain, europe

Length

2.7 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Alright, thrill-seekers, let's talk about the A-4324, the road to Sobrón Alto, a tiny village in Álava, nestled right in the Basque Country of northern Spain! Forget your average Sunday drive; this route, squeezed between the Montes Obarenes and Sierra de Árcena mountains, is *intense*.

The pavement might be patchy, a mix of asphalt and concrete, but don't let that fool you. This baby is STEEP. We're talking gradients reaching a wild 15.4% in places! Starting from the A-2122 (aka the Sobrón Canyon road), you'll climb for about 2.7km (1.67 miles), gaining a solid 189 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 7%, so prepare for some serious uphill action. Generally, it’s open year-round, but keep an eye on the weather in winter - things can get dicey up there. But, if you're up for a challenge and craving some stunning mountain views, this road is calling your name!

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Road Details

Country
Spain
Continent
europe
Length
2.7 km
Difficulty
hard

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