Where is Grosser Speikkogel?
Austria, europe
4.3 km
2,130 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure awaits on the road to Grosser Speikkogel in Carinthia, Austria! You'll find this peak bordering Styria in the southern reaches of the country. This route, built back in '76, climbs to 2,130m (6,988ft) – the highest point on the Koralm ridge, a place that's been strategically important since Roman times!
The road is paved the whole way, but heads up from the Koralpe parking area for just 4.3 km (2.67 miles). Don't let the short distance fool you! This is one serious climb, gaining 480 meters in elevation. Get ready for some steep sections with a max gradient of 20.4% and an average of 11.16%. The final kilometers are a real leg-burner!
Heads up: this road is closed to the public. If you do get up there, the summit is dominated by radio/TV facilities and a couple of huge radar domes used by the Austrian Army. The views are bound to be killer!
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 4.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,130 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in europe
hardCol Sud de Menouve
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! Col Sud de Menouve in Italy's Valle d’Aosta is calling your name, if you're up for a challenge. We're talking a whopping 2,429 meters (that's 7,969 feet!) above sea level. The road? Well, let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Think gravel, rocks, and a whole lotta bumpy action. This isn't your grandma's Sunday drive. Expect a pretty steep climb! And pro tip: forget about it from October to May – snow will shut. it. down. Seriously, though, 4x4 is a MUST. And if you get queasy looking down, maybe skip this one. But if you're an experienced off-roader craving an epic view and aren't afraid of a little mud (especially if it's been raining!), Col Sud de Menouve might just become your new favorite thrill ride.
hardGodovic Pass is a classic road trip in Slovenia
🌍 Slovenia
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Slovenia's Inner Carniola region, right where the Slovenian Prealps meet the Dinaric Alps. You're heading for Godovič Pass, sitting pretty at 850 meters (2,789 feet). The road here? Immaculate. Seriously, smooth sailing on Road n° 207. Don't get too comfy though, because this isn't just any scenic drive. Over 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Col to Godovič, you'll be tackling seven seriously tight hairpin turns! And get this: near the top, you can explore the Bunker Alpskega zidu, a WWII-era fortress. How cool is that? History and hairpin turns all in one trip. Get ready for some views – this road's a total winner!
hardIs the M6 the longest motorway in the UK?
🇬🇧 England
Ever heard of the M6, aka the "Backbone of Britain"? This massive motorway stretches a whopping 233 miles from Rugby, near the M1, all the way north to Carlisle, near the Scottish border. It's the longest motorway in the UK and super busy, but here's a quirky twist: it's supposedly Britain's most haunted road! We're talking phantom hitchhikers who vanish into thin air, Roman soldiers marching alongside your car (seriously!), and ghost cars that look like they've been in a wreck. Drivers have reported spooky vibes and unexplained sightings all over this stretch of road. Whether it's real or just road-trip-induced imagination, the M6 definitely has a reputation for the paranormal! Built partially on a route used by Roman soldiers way back in 55 BC, the M6 may be one of the oldest roads in the UK.
hardIs Tomul Pass unpaved?
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Okay, picture this: you're in Graubünden, Switzerland, ready to tackle the Tomül Pass! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about a wild, unpaved "Path of the Poles" climbing to 2,418m (7,933ft). This narrow, roughly 2.5 meter-wide track was carved back in the 1940s by Polish internees. The climb kicks off near Gäste- und Ferienhaus Wanna, and it's a leg-burner! Just over 5 km to go, but you'll gain a whopping 690 meters in altitude. That's an average gradient of 13%, with some sections hitting a brutal 18%! Expect switchbacks galore, some lined with cool old dry stone walls. Keep an eye out for bumpy paved sections that reinforce the roadbed. Back in Roman times, locals used this route for grazing their animals. Then, around 1300, the Walser folks made it more important, connecting valleys. But it wasn't until 1880 that they made it safe for horse-drawn carts. The eastern side, the one we're talking about, got upgraded for light vehicles in the 40s, thanks to those Polish soldiers. Get ready for stunning views, a bit of a history lesson, and a proper off-road adventure.