Where is Calle Monroy?

Where is Calle Monroy?

Spain, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: you're in Tenerife, Canary Islands, ready for an adventure. Head to Santa Úrsula, and you'll find Calle Monroy. This isn't your average street; it's a wild ride!

Spanning 740 meters, it drops from 638 meters down to 430, boasting an average gradient of 28.1%. Parts of it hit a crazy 40%! The upper section's so steep, it's paved with grippy, chevron-patterned concrete instead of regular asphalt.

It's fully paved, but don't let that fool you. There are no flat sections to catch your breath, and the end gets super narrow. Seriously, this climb is a beast! If you stall, you're sliding back. Even stopping is tough. A little shrine on the side is a somber reminder of the dangers. Pro tip? Start at the top and cruise down for a less stressful experience.

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Road Details

Country
Spain
Continent
europe
Difficulty
hard

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