Where is Karasar Geçidi?
Turkey, europe
27.6 km
1,939 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, buckle up for Karasar Geçidi in Turkey's Sivas Province! This mountain pass climbs to a cool 1,939 meters (6,361 feet) in the eastern part of Central Anatolia.
The D260 road is paved, but let's just say it's seen better days! This 27.6km (17.14 miles) stretch connects Yalnızsöğüt and Güneyevler with some serious ups and downs. We're talking gradients hitting a hefty 11% in places!
Keep an eye on the weather, though. Things can get wild up here! But if you're up for a challenging drive with amazing views, Karasar Geçidi is calling your name.
Road Details
- Country
- Turkey
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 27.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,939 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateWhere is Col de Mallemort?
🇫🇷 France
Alright, adventure seekers, buckle up for the Col de Mallemort! This wild ride tops out at 2,543 meters (8,343 feet) in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of France, nestled in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, not far from Italy. You'll find a military signal station perched at the summit, offering incredible views. Now, heads up: this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road to the top is unpaved and seriously rugged – think 4x4 vehicles only. You'll be winding past old military installations on a path barely wide enough for one vehicle, often with sheer drops on either side. Seriously, the photos don't do it justice! Expect a constant barrage of hairpin turns. Many are so tight you'll need to make multi-point turns to navigate them. And once you're committed, there's no turning back! From the paved D900, it's about 9.9 kilometers (6.15 miles) to the summit, climbing over 800 meters (2,600 feet) with an average grade of 8.1%. Built between 1933 and 1939, this historic track is typically closed during the winter months. Get ready for an unforgettable alpine experience!
moderateA939 is one of Scotland's top roads
🇬🇧 Scotland
Okay, picture this: The A939, aka Lecht Road or Old Military Road, snaking through the Scottish Highlands—seriously, one of the UK's best drives! We're talking super-steep sections here, with gradients hitting a wild 20%. Nestled in Cairngorms National Park, this gem stretches for about 60 miles (96 km) from Nairn, right on the Moray Coast, down to Ballater in Aberdeenshire. This baby's paved and boasts a killer layout – think graceful curves mixed with rollercoaster-like hills. For a good chunk of the way, it follows the old military road built after the Jacobite rising. Back in the day, this was an important route carved out by William Caulfield, a British Army officer who was responsible for hundreds of miles of roads. Perched high in the Grampian Mountains, it peaks at Lecht Pass, a lofty 2,119 feet (646m) above sea level – one of the highest roads around! Usually, it's open year-round, but watch out for winter closures due to gnarly weather. It's often the first road in Britain to get snowed under between Cock Bridge and Tomintoul. You'll climb Dava Moor, Bridge of Brown, Lecht Pass, and Gairnshiel Summit. Budget about 1.5 to 2 hours to drive it straight through. And trust me, it's worth it: it's bumpy, twisty, and often has zero cell service, but the scenery is epic. It's smack-dab in the middle of nowhere: bare landscapes, endless mountain views, sheep chilling in the fields, and you might even spot some deer! It's a must-drive. It's got that classic Scotland scenery and barely any traffic because most folks stick to the highway next to the park.
hardWhere is Pic de Château Renard?
🇫🇷 France
Picture this: you're in the French Alps, deep in the Queyras Regional Natural Park. You're headed up, up, up to Pic de Château Renard, a lofty peak sitting pretty at 2,936m (9,632ft). This isn't just any drive; it's one of the highest roads you'll find in Europe! The real gem at the top is the Observatoire de Saint-Véran - Paul Felenbok, an astronomical observatory perched high in the sky. Built in 1974, it's one of the highest in Europe. Now, about the road... It's an 11.1km (6.89 miles) unpaved adventure starting from Saint-Véran. Don't let the distance fool you – you'll be climbing 927 meters with an average gradient of 8.35%, with some sections hitting a whopping 16.0%! You'll definitely need a 4x4 for this one. Keep in mind that the road is usually closed from October to June, and is only accessible by astronomers or the Observatory's service vehicle.
hardAn old military dirt road to Monte Rite in the Dolomites
🇮🇹 Italy
# Monte Rite: A Legendary Mountain Drive in the Dolomites Perched at 2,168 meters (7,112 feet) in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, Monte Rite is calling your name. This isn't your typical scenic drive—it's a raw, unpaved adventure that takes you back in time along a WWI military road that's as much history lesson as it is thrill ride. Starting from Passo Cibiana (where you'll find a convenient car park), the 6.2-kilometer climb to the summit is no joke. Expect steep grades reaching 12% at their worst, with an average gradient hanging around 9.6% as you gain 593 meters of elevation. But here's the thing: the payoff is absolutely worth every switchback. Once you reach the top, you're rewarded with jaw-dropping 360° views of the Dolomites' most iconic peaks. You'll find the charming Rifugio Dolomites for a well-deserved break, plus the Forte Monte Rite—an impressively preserved WWI fortress built between 1912-14. And if you're feeling cultured, there's the Messner Museum (also called "The Museum in the Clouds"), Europe's highest museum, named after legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner. A heads-up though: private vehicles are banned on this road, and Mother Nature closes the party late October through late June or early July, depending on snow conditions. Plan accordingly, and you've got yourself one unforgettable alpine experience.