
What’s at the Summit of Alpspitze?
Germany, europe
14 km
2,091 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Let's talk about Alpspitze, a seriously epic peak chilling in Bavaria, Germany. We're talking about a whopping 2,091 meters (6,860 feet) above sea level!
What's at the top? Only the coolest viewing platform ever – the AlpspiX! Imagine two metal walkways jutting out over a cliff, crisscrossing to form a giant "X." Talk about photo ops! Of course, being high up, it can get chilly and windy, but hey, the views are SO worth it. Plus, there are restaurants and shops up there – bonus!
Getting there? The road clocks in at about 14 km (8.69 miles) from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a ski resort town. But heads up: this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road's unpaved, and we're talking narrow and steep. Word to the wise: winter is a no-go.
Important Note: As of 2016, this route is closed to motor vehicles, so plan on hiking or other modes of exploring.
Road Details
- Country
- Germany
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 14 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,091 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderate1. Galway – Clifden – Westport
🌍 Ireland
1. **Galway – Clifden – Westport:** Wind your way through the wild Connemara region on this route, climbing high for panoramic coastal views on your way to Clifden. The return trip towards Westport treats you to the serene Doolough Valley and tranquil lakes. 2. **The Inishowen 100, Donegal:** Clocking in at roughly 100 miles, this coastal adventure hugs Ireland's northernmost point. Starting in Muff, cruise north through Moville and the Malin Head loop, before finishing in Burnfoot. Get ready for jaw-dropping scenery and plenty of reasons to pull over and soak it all in. 3. **The Burren Beauty, Clare:** A 68km loop showcasing North West Clare's dramatic landscape overlooking the Atlantic and Galway Bay. Starting in Kilfenora, venture through Lisdoonvarna and up to Black Head, before looping back through Carran. You'll be flanked by the unique rocky Burren on one side and the vast ocean on the other. 4. **The Sally Gap, County Wicklow:** Escape the city with this east-to-west route across the Wicklow Mountains, easily accessible from Dublin. The Sally Gap offers the best non-coastal lake and mountain views, completing a loop by taking the R759 east across the mountains, head north on the R115 5. **Giant’s Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland:** A 190km point-to-point drive that takes in many of Northern Ireland’s main tourist sites. Starting in Belfast, you drive the Northern coast of the country, stopping by the Giant's Causeway, the Bushmills distillery and the seaside towns of Portrush and Portstewart. 6. **Sheep’s Head Peninsula, Bantry – Durrus, Cork:** This ring drive starts in Bantry and loops around the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, eventually finishing up in Durrus. At only 40km long, the loop takes in the whole of the Peninsula, offering fantastic views of the ocean on either side during the drive. 7. **Bray to Dublin City Centre:** Taking the coastal road into Dublin from Bray takes you through Killiney, Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire giving you an epic view over the city and the coastline to your right. 8. **Copper Coast – Dungarvan to Tramore, Waterford:** This 40 km drive between Dungarvan and Tramore in Waterford takes you right along the Southern coastline of Waterford, with spectacular vistas. Just start in either town and stick to the coast all the way along and everything will be grand. 9. **Sperrin Mountains, Tyrone:** Explore Northern Ireland's mountain spectacle. Starting in Strabane, wind your way through the twisty roads towards Sawel Mountain, the peak of the Sperrins. The valleys and peaks above and below make it one of the most memorable landscapes on the whole island. 10. **Kenmare to Bantry:** Crossing the Cork and Kerry border, this drive takes you along the coast for a bit coming out of Bantry town and then past the Glengarriff Nature Reserve. You complete it crossing the bridge into Kenmare with the wonderful Kenmare Bay on your left. 11. **Clonakilty – Old Head of Kinsale:** This scenic route brings you through West Cork and along the sensational coastline starting at Timoleague. Then you follow the coast to the famous Old Head of Kinsale – with views to match those anywhere in the country. 12. **Dollymount to Howth Head, Dublin:** Being so close to the city centre of Dublin, this drive takes you along the coast of the Northside with views stretching out as you loop up and around Howth Head looking down on the city and the Poolbeg Chimneys as you climb higher. 13. **Slea Head Drive, Dingle Peninsula, Kerry:** Starting out in Dingle, this loop around the most westerly point of mainland Ireland takes in the tip of the Dingle Peninsula – giving you beautiful views stretching out over the Atlantic and to the Blasket Islands. 14. **Ennis – Doonbeg, Clare:** Following the line of the Shannon Estuary westwards, this drive will take you around the Southern tip of Clare and onwards to Doonbeg on the Atlantic coast. It’s not the quickest way to get between the two towns, but it’s by far the best.
extremeOymyakon Road is the World’s Coldest Winter Adventure Road Trip
🌍 Russia
Okay, picture this: you're in the Sakha Republic of Russia, heading towards Oymyakon, the planet's chilliest village. Buckle up, because you're about to tackle what they call the World’s Coldest Winter Adventure Road Trip! Oymyakon itself is nestled along the Indigirka River, famous for its seriously subarctic climate. We're talking long, brutal winters where temps can plummet to -50°C or even -60°C! The record low? A bone-chilling -71.2°C. Surrounded by mountains, this little village is home to just a few hundred hardy souls. The road in, route 98H-002, kicks off from the Kolyma Highway and stretches for about 38.4 km. But forget smooth asphalt – we're talking completely unpaved, pothole city! Expect a blanket of snow for nine months of the year. And with blizzards being a regular thing, conditions can get wild fast. You'll climb a bit, eventually reaching Oymyakon at 750 meters above sea level. Word to the wise: never, ever drive this road solo. Forget about cell service, and even if you somehow found a signal, your phone probably wouldn't work in that kind of freeze. Life in Oymyakon is all about adapting to the extreme cold. Locals keep their cars in heated garages, and if they leave them out, they leave them running! Expect frozen axle grease, fuel tanks, and pipes that can ice up in just a few hours. Batteries drain super quick too. Despite all that, the road attracts adventurous souls who want to experience what it's like to live in one of the coldest places on Earth.
hardHow long is Coll de Soller in Mallorca?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, cyclists and road trip lovers, listen up! You absolutely HAVE to experience the Coll de Soller if you're ever on the stunning island of Mallorca, Spain. Nestled in the Tramuntana mountains, this paved road (MA-11A) is a climb you won't forget. Clocking in at 10.7 km (6.64 miles), starting and ending on the MA-11 road, don't let the length fool you. This beauty packs a punch! We're talking 52 hairpin turns that will have you grinning (or reaching for the motion sickness pills!). Some sections get seriously steep, hitting a maximum gradient of 12.7%. Keep an eye out for goats who sometimes wander onto the road! The Coll de Soller isn't just a challenging drive; it's a scenic feast! The road winds its way up to 508m (1,666ft), offering incredible views north towards the sea and south over the island towards Palma. Allow about 25-35 minutes to conquer it without stopping, but trust me, you'll WANT to stop. The road can get busy in summer, but the good news is it’s open year-round. Up at the summit, you’ll find a couple of restaurants (Restaurant Dalt d'es Coll and Ca'n Topa, Coll de Sóller) with seasonal opening times where you can refuel and soak in the views. Because of the twisty nature, a tunnel was built to bypass this road, which now means the road is rarely traveled by cars, meaning you get to enjoy a more peaceful experience. This is one road trip that will stay with you long after you've left Mallorca!
moderateCol du Glandon is one of the toughest climbs in the French Alps
🇫🇷 France
# Col du Glandon: A Alpine Classic Worth the Climb Nestled high in the Dauphiné Alps at 1,930m (6,332ft), Col du Glandon is one seriously impressive mountain pass that'll test even experienced drivers. Located in the Savoie department of southeastern France, this beauty stretches a whopping 46.4 km (28.83 miles) between Barrage du Verney and La Chambre, and it's fully paved on road D927. Here's the deal: this pass has serious credentials. Built way back in 1898, it first appeared in the Tour de France in 1947 and has been a favorite challenge ever since. Every July, it kicks off La Marmotte sportive as the first climb, and summer brings decent traffic as riders and drivers flock here for the stunning views. The climb is no joke though. Those last seven kilometers? They're where things get real, with gradients ramping up to a brutal 15.5% max. The final two kilometers are relentless—mostly over 10% with stretches hitting 12%. Coming from Barrage du Verney, you're looking at 24.12 km gaining 1,152m (average 4.8%), while the La Chambre approach is 21.3 km with 1,472m elevation gain (average 6.9%). At the summit, you'll find a proper parking area and a bar-restaurant where you can catch your breath and soak in those incredible alpine views. Fair warning though: the road typically closes from early November through mid-May, so plan your visit for the warmer months.