The unpaved road to Col de Moulata in the Pyrenees

Col de Moulata is this awesome high mountain pass perched at 1,685m (5,528ft) in the Hautes-Pyrénées, tucked away in the southwestern corner of France's Occitanie region. It's basically a stone's throw from the Hautacam ski resort, and there's a sweet parking area right at the summit if you need to catch your breath.

Here's the thing—the road is completely unpaved, but don't let that scare you. Your regular passenger car can handle it just fine. Just know that Mother Nature shuts this place down pretty hard from late October through late June or early July, so timing is everything.

The drive itself is short and punchy: just 1.5 km (0.93 miles) starting from Col de Tramassel. But don't confuse short with easy. This is a seriously steep climb through the Pyrenees with some sections hitting a brutal 12% gradient. It's the kind of road that'll get your heart pumping and your palms sweating, but the reward? Standing at that summit with views of some of France's most dramatic alpine scenery.