
The Wild Road to Colle del Preit
Italy, europe
5.4 km
2,065 m
extreme
Year-round
# Colle del Preit
Nestled in Cuneo province in southwestern Piedmont, Italy, Colle del Preit sits pretty at 2,065 meters (6,774 feet) above sea level. This high-altitude pass sits just east of Gardetta Pass and offers one seriously challenging ride.
The road up here is legitimately narrow and demanding—we're talking hairpin turns galore and sections that'll make your palms sweat. Good news though: it's been paved in recent years after spending way too long as a rough, unpaved mess. Still, heads up: the final stretch is off-limits to regular cars, so you'll need to hoof it on foot if you want to reach the very top.
It's a pretty solitary drive, though you'll spot the occasional adventurous tourist making the climb. Starting from the small town of Preit, you're looking at 5.4 kilometers (3.35 miles) of uphill action that'll net you 524 meters of elevation gain—that's an average gradient of 9.7%. But here's where it gets spicy: the last push to the summit kicks up to a gnarly 16% gradient on some stretches. Definitely not your grandma's Sunday drive, but if you're into dramatic Alpine scenery and a genuine test of your driving skills, this one's calling your name.
Where is it?
The Wild Road to Colle del Preit is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.4121, 14.0049
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 5.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,065 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 42.4121, 14.0049
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