Where is Col dés Pres?

Where is Col dés Pres?

France, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, so Col dés Pres isn't just any mountain pass—it's a high one, way up there! Nestled west of the Pointe de la Sana (a seriously tall peak itself), you'll find it chilling in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France, practically in the backyard of the famous Val d'Isère ski resort.

Now, about the road… it's a bit of a unique situation. It's essentially a chairlift access trail during the warmer months, so you won't find any regular car traffic here. The path stretches roughly 1.4 km to the summit. Oh, and heads up: because it's within the Vanoise National Park, the road is usually closed completely during the winter season. Get ready for some stunning views.

Share this road

Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Difficulty
moderate

Related Roads in europe

Bella Vista Refugeextreme

Bella Vista Refuge

🇮🇹 Italy

# Rifugio Bella Vista Tucked away in Italy's stunning South Tyrol region, Rifugio Bella Vista sits at a seriously impressive 2,887 meters (9,471 feet) above sea level. Getting there? That's half the adventure—and then some. The road up is definitely not your typical mountain drive. We're talking gravel, rocks, and plenty of challenging terrain that demands respect. It's actually a chairlift access trail, and yeah, you'll absolutely need a 4WD vehicle for this one. The slope is relentlessly steep, littered with loose stones that get progressively gnarlier and rockier the higher you climb. Expect your vehicle to work hard. The summer window is your best bet—typically from early June through early October, weather gods permitting. But even during the "good" season, don't underestimate this place. The extreme altitude and unpredictable mountain weather keep things interesting year-round. And fair warning: the wind up here is seriously no joke, howling through pretty much every season. If you make it up here, you'll be driving one of Italy's highest accessible roads. That's bragging rights right there. Just come prepared, respect the conditions, and make sure your vehicle is up to the challenge.

Where is Cima Grappa?hard

Where is Cima Grappa?

🇮🇹 Italy

Okay, picture this: you're winding your way up Cima Grappa in Italy, straddling Treviso, Vicenza, and Belluno. This isn't just any drive; it's a climb to 1,775 meters (5,769ft) above sea level in the Veneto region! The road, also known as Strada Provinciale 140 (SP140), is totally paved, snaking up the Grappa massif. Starting from Semonzo, it’s about 18.8 km (11.68 miles) of pure driving bliss...and a bit of a challenge! We're talking an elevation gain of 1,530 meters, averaging an 8.1% gradient. The first 11km are a steady 7.4%, but don’t get too comfy—the last 7.5km kick it up to 8.9%, with some sections hitting a crazy 14%! Plus, there are around 30 hairpin turns to keep you on your toes, some numbered. Cima Grappa is famous for the Sacrario Militare del Monte Grappa, a memorial site for soldiers from WWI and WWII. It's a place of remembrance, with Italian and Austro-Hungarian ossuaries holding thousands. You'll also find the Madonna del Grappa statue, a World War Museum, and the remains of a former NATO radar missile base. It's beautiful, humbling, and definitely worth the drive.

Where is Roki Tunnel?moderate

Where is Roki Tunnel?

🌍 Russia

The Roksky Tunnel is a wild ride, perched way up at 2,130m (6,988ft) on the border between Russia and Georgia in the mighty Greater Caucasus Mountains! This isn't just any shortcut; it's a 3,730-meter (12,240 ft) long tunnel blasted through the mountains back in 1984. Forget the old Roki Pass, which was only open in the summer and sat way up at 3,000 meters. The Transcaucasian Highway runs right through it, connecting Gori in Russia with Java in Georgia, over a stretch of 58km (36 miles). Word to the wise: this road can be a beast in winter. Avalanches are a real threat, so closures are common. More than just a road, this tunnel is the lifeline between North Ossetia–Alania in Russia and South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia. Legend has it, it's not just cars and trucks that use this route, but maybe other "goods" too!

Gamle Strynefjellsvegen is a scenic drive in Norwayhard

Gamle Strynefjellsvegen is a scenic drive in Norway

🇳🇴 Norway

# Gamle Strynefjellsvegen: A Step Back in Time on Norway's Most Charming Mountain Road Picture this: a 27-kilometer ribbon of road winding through the Norwegian mountains, basically unchanged since 1894. Welcome to Gamle Strynefjellsvegen—or as locals call it, the Old Strynefjell Mountain Road—where you'll feel like you've stepped straight into the late 1800s. Straddling Innlandet and Vestland counties in western Norway, this National Tourist Route runs from Videseter to Grotli and is an absolute must for anyone craving a road trip with serious character. The first 10 km are paved, but then things get properly adventurous: the final 17 km turn into gravel. Pro tip—if conditions look sketchy where the road transitions (marked by a stone near Langvatnet lake), you can always bail and take the modern highway instead. The gravel is a dream when dry but gets genuinely slippery when wet. Fair warning: this road demands respect. It's narrow in spots (think 3.5–4.5 meters), twisty, and downright tight for anything longer than 8 meters. Cresting at 1,139 meters above sea level, it's typically closed from late autumn through May—when it opens again in June, you're in for a treat. The scenery is absolutely stunning. You'll cruise along pristine lakes, spot the Tystigbreen glacier hanging nearby, and witness nature's wild mood swings—smooth, glacier-polished valleys giving way to dramatic, jagged peaks. It's perfect for cycling and hiking, with endless mountain walking opportunities in summer and early autumn. The history alone is worth the drive. Hand-built in 1894 by Swedish workers and local laborers, this road was a genuine engineering marvel. Even cooler? Until the 1950s, 200 men with shovels manually cleared the winter snow. These days, snowplows handle it in just days.