When was the Zillertaler Höhenstraße built?
Austria, europe
50 km
2,133 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Zillertaler Höhenstraße in Tyrol, Austria. This isn't just any road; it's a 50 km (31 mile) stretch of pure Alpine bliss, originally built back in '63 to help farmers tend their pastures. Now, it's open to everyone, and trust me, you want in on this.
You can hop on from five different spots: Ried, Kaltenbach, Aschau, Zellberg, and Hippach. Just a heads up, this beauty is a toll road, and you can usually hit it up between mid-May and late October, snow permitting.
Heads up, though, it's not for the faint of heart! We're talking hairpin turns, some seriously narrow bits, and a maximum gradient of 20% in places. The road climbs to Arbisjochkopf, sitting pretty at 2,133m (6,998ft) above sea level, giving you a total altitude gain of 1,400m. Forget about speeding; with all those blind corners, you'll want to take it slow and savor the insane views of the Zillertal Alps. Seriously, this road is an absolute blast to drive.
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 50 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,133 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateNeringa Road: Discover the Curonian Spit Peninsula
🌍 Russia
Cruising the Neringa Road is like driving through a postcard! This 62-mile stretch of pure beauty winds its way along the Curonian Spit in Lithuania, right on the Baltic Sea. Seriously, this place is nicknamed the "Lithuanian Sahara" for a reason! You'll be traveling through a string of charming old fishing villages – Pervalka, Preila, Juodkrante, and Nida – that make up the Neringa region. The road itself is paved and smooth, taking you past incredible dunes and through fragrant pine forests. Once you get to the high points, you can see the Baltic Sea on one side and a massive, serene lagoon on the other. The best time to go is summer (June-September) for long days and mild weather, perfect for exploring the stunning coastal scenery. Keep your eyes peeled for amazing birdlife, including Europe’s biggest cormorant colony! This road trip is a must-do for nature lovers and anyone seeking a unique Baltic adventure.
hardHow to get by car to Skaloti Gorge in Crete?
🇬🇷 Greece
# Skaloti Gorge: Crete's Hidden Mountain-to-Sea Adventure Tucked away on the south coast of Crete, the Skaloti Gorge is a wild 2 km ride that'll take your breath away—literally and figuratively. This unpaved beauty winds its way from the Manikas plateau down to the charming seaside village of Skaloti, sitting pretty at the base of the White Mountains in the Fragokastelo region. Running north to south between Kallikratis and Skaloti, this route cuts right through the heart of the gorge and even passes by the historic Agios Manolis church. Fair warning though: you're looking at a rough-and-tumble gravel track with only patches of concrete to break up the chaos. The narrow sections? Yeah, they're *really* narrow—we're talking barely enough room for two vehicles to squeeze past each other. Climbing to a stomach-dropping 943 meters above sea level, the road dishes out 14 hairpin turns and some seriously steep descents that'll test your nerve and your brakes. The loose gravel surface means high-clearance vehicles are definitely your best bet here. But push through those switchbacks and you'll reach an absolutely stunning viewpoint at the summit, where the Libyan Sea stretches out before you and the Fragokastelo coastal plain sprawls beneath your feet. As you descend toward Skaloti, the canyon walls turn almost vertical—it's dramatic, it's stunning, and it's not for the faint of heart.
extremeA journey on the legendary Pista del Marroquí
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Pista del Marroquí, an old road clinging to the cliffs in Ourense, up in the Galicia region of northwest Spain. Seriously stunning! This isn't your average Sunday drive, though. Nestled way up in the Macizo Galaico-Leones mountains, this 9-kilometer stretch is a bit rough around the edges. You'll find pavement for most of it, but there are some unpaved sections towards the end that add a little extra thrill. Let's just say it's cozy – definitely a one-car-at-a-time kind of road. Fair warning: it's not maintained and has some serious drop-offs – we're talking hundreds of meters! Here's the cool part: it was built way back between 1927 and 1940 to help build a railway line from Vigo to Madrid. It's named after the engineer, Augusto Marroquí. Legend has it that so many workers died building the railway (around 12,000!), that it got the nickname "Camiño dos Mortos" – the Track of the Dead. The road basically hugs the railway line, acting as a service road for workers, supplies, and the injured. You'll be winding between 800 and 1000 meters above sea level, with unbelievable mountain views. Be aware that a landslide has blocked part of the road, so you can't drive the whole thing. There's a place called Mirador de Sierra Alta nearby for taking pictures.
hardThe wild unpaved road to Pico del Nevero
🇪🇸 Spain
# Pico del Nevero: Spain's Sky-High Adventure Nestled in the heart of Spain's Sierra de Guadarrama National Park—straddling the border between Segovia and Madrid—Pico del Nevero stands at a whopping 2,211m (7,257ft) and promises one of the most exhilarating drives you'll experience. Fair warning: this isn't your typical Sunday cruise. The entire route to the summit is unpaved, and you'll be tackling some seriously gnarly sections with grades pushing 37%. Throw in relentless winds that howl year-round, and you're in for a real test of your driving skills. You'll definitely need a 4x4 vehicle for this one. The best time to tackle this beast? Late spring through early fall. Outside these months, you're battling snow-covered mountain roads that'll make your palms sweat. As you climb, you'll spot eerie remnants from the Spanish Civil War scattered along the way—a haunting reminder of history. But here's the payoff: the summit is genuinely spectacular. You're rewarded with panoramic views that'll take your breath away—sweeping vistas of Peñalara, Cuerda Larga, and Bola del Mundo peaks stretching out in every direction. It's honestly one of the best viewpoints in the entire Sierra de Guadarrama, and the photo ops are incredible. This is the kind of drive that tests both your vehicle and your nerve—and delivers an unforgettable experience.