
Where is Alto de Carrascoy?
Spain, europe
9.5 km
1,062 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, buckle up thrill-seekers, because Alto de Carrascoy in the Murcia region of Spain is a beast of a climb! Nestled in the stunning Sierra de Carrascoy y El Valle Regional Park in southeastern Spain, this peak tops out at 1,062m (3,484ft).
The road, also known as Pico de La Maza, is a 9.5km (5.9 miles) dead-end paved route that kicks off from the RM-603 road near Casas Nuevas de la Costera. Don't let the "paved" part fool you, though—the tarmac can be pretty rough in spots! Over that distance, you'll be battling a whopping 891 meters of elevation gain.
And when I say "battle," I mean it. The average gradient is a leg-burning 9.37%, but don't be fooled; the first 6km average almost 12%, with sections maxing out at a lung-busting 18%! Just when you think you've conquered it, the last couple of kilometers tease you with a false flat and even a bit of descent. The summit is crowned with antennas and a communications tower, so enjoy the views as your reward for all that hard work!
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,062 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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