
Where is Lago di Teleccio?
Italy, europe
11.66 km
1,918 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Lago di Teleccio, a stunning alpine lake shimmering at 1,918 meters (6,292 feet) in the Italian Alps near Turin. Getting there? Buckle up! The Strada al Lago Teleccio is no joke. We're talking seriously steep – sections hitting 15.7%! – and a twisty-turny dream (or nightmare, depending on your driving skills) with 20 hairpin turns to conquer.
You'll find this hidden gem nestled in the Piedmont region of northern Italy.
The road is paved, thankfully, but super narrow. Think "squeeze by" rather than cruise alongside oncoming traffic. It's a 11.66 km (7.24 miles) climb from Casetti - Rosone, gaining a whopping 1,189 meters in elevation! That's an average grade of 10.1%, so be ready for a workout.
Keep in mind, being high in Gran Paradiso National Park, the road is usually open only from May to October, thanks to the snow. Heads up that the last 6.3km are closed to private vehicles.
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 11.66 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,918 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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