Where is Pennes Pass?

Where is Pennes Pass?

Italy, europe

Length

28.9 km

Elevation

2,211 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up, road-trippers! We're heading to Passo di Pennes, a seriously stunning mountain pass way up in the Italian Alps, right in the heart of the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region.

Think of it as your express lane between Innsbruck and Bolzano, with a sweet little parking spot and restaurant waiting for you at the top for a well-deserved break.

This beauty, also known as Penser Joch, is a fully paved ribbon of road, officially called Strada Statale 508 (SS508). Get ready for 28.9 km of winding adventure connecting the charming villages of Rio Bianco (Weißenbach) and Vipiteno (Sterzing).

Now, let's be real: this drive isn't for the faint of heart. We're talking hundreds of turns, some cheeky hairpin bends, and a max gradient of 20.7%! While they've widened bits of it over the years, it can still feel a bit snug up there. But trust me, the views are worth every white-knuckle moment!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Italy
Continent
europe
Length
28.9 km
Max Elevation
2,211 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in europe

Bistra Lakehard

Bistra Lake

🌍 Macedonia

Bistra Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.827m (5,994ft) above the sea level, located in the mountainous region of northwestern Republic of North Macedonia. The road to the summit, located on the slopes of Bistra mountain in Mavrovo National Park, is totally unpaved. The road is usually impassable in winters. Great trail for experienced wheelers. Open to all motorized vehicles, however, strongly recommended for high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicles. The road is very rough--only try driving it in a 2wd car, if you're planning to buy a new car. At the lake (south direction) is a small gravel road winding its way up to 2.089m (6,853ft) above the sea level. It’s  one of the highest roads of the country. Expect a trail pretty steep. Wet conditions may make for tough driving along the muddy road.  Driving the wild road to Stogovo Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click  to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.

Lej da Diavolezzamoderate

Lej da Diavolezza

🇨🇭 Switzerland

# Lej da Diavolezza: A High-Alpine Adventure Nestled in Switzerland's Graubünden canton, Lej da Diavolezza sits pretty at 2,697 meters (8,848 feet) above sea level, overlooking the stunning Val Bernina. If you're craving a serious mountain driving experience, this is it. Fair warning: the road up is gravel, rocky, and relentlessly bumpy—this isn't a leisurely Sunday drive. It's only accessible from July through September (weather willing), and the conditions can shift from manageable to treacherous in a heartbeat. Thunderstorms? They'll transform your gravel path into a muddy mess or shut you down completely. Think endless switchbacks, narrow passages, and unforgiving elevation changes that'll test even seasoned off-roaders. You'll absolutely need a 4x4 vehicle for this one, and if heights make you queasy, you might want to skip it. But here's the payoff: the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Alpine flora and fauna thrive up here, and if you're lucky, you might spot ptarmigans doing their thing among the rocks. The real showstopper? The lake itself. Winter keeps it frozen and white, but come early summer, as the snow retreats, it reveals this stunning intense blue color that'll make your jaw drop. It's genuinely one of those drives where the challenge and the reward go hand in hand—just make sure you've got the skills (and the vehicle) to handle it.

The Wild Road to Colle del Preitextreme

The Wild Road to Colle del Preit

🇮🇹 Italy

# Colle del Preit Nestled in Cuneo province in southwestern Piedmont, Italy, Colle del Preit sits pretty at 2,065 meters (6,774 feet) above sea level. This high-altitude pass sits just east of Gardetta Pass and offers one seriously challenging ride. The road up here is legitimately narrow and demanding—we're talking hairpin turns galore and sections that'll make your palms sweat. Good news though: it's been paved in recent years after spending way too long as a rough, unpaved mess. Still, heads up: the final stretch is off-limits to regular cars, so you'll need to hoof it on foot if you want to reach the very top. It's a pretty solitary drive, though you'll spot the occasional adventurous tourist making the climb. Starting from the small town of Preit, you're looking at 5.4 kilometers (3.35 miles) of uphill action that'll net you 524 meters of elevation gain—that's an average gradient of 9.7%. But here's where it gets spicy: the last push to the summit kicks up to a gnarly 16% gradient on some stretches. Definitely not your grandma's Sunday drive, but if you're into dramatic Alpine scenery and a genuine test of your driving skills, this one's calling your name.

Where is Mount Leinster?moderate

Where is Mount Leinster?

🌍 Ireland

Okay, picture this: you're in Ireland, right on the border of Carlow and Wexford, ready to tackle Mount Leinster. This isn't just any drive – it's a climb to the highest paved road in Ireland, all the way up to 786 meters! The road, known as the 2RN access road, is a bit rough around the edges but totally paved. It's a short but intense 2.6 km (1.61 miles) from Nine Stones, packing in an elevation gain of 335 meters. We’re talking an average gradient of almost 13%, with sections hitting a whopping 17%! Heads up, this road was built to service the TV transmitter at the top (you can't miss the 122m mast!), so it’s usually gated to keep regular traffic out and keep vandals away from the tower. But if you can find a way, the views are *insane*. Seriously, you’ll be treated to the most incredible Irish countryside panoramas. Keep an eye out for local wildlife too! This spot is also super popular with hang-gliders, so you might catch them launching into the sky. Just be prepared for some wild weather up there – high winds and rainstorms are pretty common. And hey, you can brag that you’ve been to the highest point in both Carlow and Wexford! Mount Leinster has even featured in the Tour of Ireland, so you know it's legit.