Where is Col du Pourtalet?

Okay, picture this: Col du Pourtalet, straddling the border between Spain and France at a cool 5,898 feet. You'll find it chilling on the edge of Parc National des Pyrénées, linking the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in France with the province of Huesca in Spain. This used to be a full-on border crossing, and you can still spot the old border post!

Ready to drive it? The road, also known as El Portalet or Portalet d'Aneu, is paved from end to end. It's about 34 miles long, running north-south from Laruns (France) to Biescas (Spain). Weekends and summer can get a bit busy, so plan accordingly.

If you're coming from Biescas, the climb is around 18 miles with a 3% average grade. It's a pretty fast, wide-open road with killer scenery. The road's built for ski resort traffic, so you know it's coach-friendly!

Now, tackling the French side (from Laruns), you're in for about 18 miles of climbing. Expect three main "ramps" at around 7% grade, mixed with longer, gentler slopes. You'll cruise through gorges, alpine meadows, and authentic Pyrenean villages. It's generally an easy climb, sticking around 5%, with one steeper section near a dam. Plus, traffic's usually not too bad.

The payoff at the top? Incredible views of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau mountain and the Cirque d’Anéou, where sheep and cows graze peacefully. You can also grab some grub at the supermarkets, bars, and restaurants before heading back down. The pass connects the Ossau (France) and Tena (Spain) valleys, too.

Heads up, the climb can get pretty steep in sections, hitting almost 9% on some ramps. And while it's usually open in winter, heavy snow can close it for a couple of days.