Where is Puerto de Arcones?
Spain, europe
N/A
N/A
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! We're heading to Puerto de Arcones, a seriously stunning mountain pass way up in Spain! Locals also call it Puerto de las Berrocosas. You'll find it chilling north of Segovia, right on the border where Segovia province meets Ávila province. It's smack-dab in the heart of Castile and León.
Word to the wise: ditch the rental sedan. This ain't a paved paradise. You're gonna need a high-clearance vehicle to tackle this dirt road, and honestly, 4x4 is your best bet, especially after it rains. Paragliders are super popular here, so keep your eyes peeled for support vehicles kicking up dust on those wide sections of the track.
This climb is no joke! You're looking at a good stretch of unpaved road with a steady elevation gain that’ll definitely test your driving skills. Buckle up, because the views from the top are totally worth it!
Related Roads in europe
easyWhat is the Diamond Circle in Iceland?
🇮🇸 Iceland
Get ready for an epic adventure on Iceland's Diamond Circle Road in the northeast! This loop hits five must-see spots: the dreamy Lake Mývatn, the thunderous Dettifoss waterfall, the horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi canyon, the charming town of Húsavík, and the majestic Goðafoss waterfall. Starting from Húsavík, perched on the edge of Skjálfandi bay, you'll weave past the awe-inspiring Dettifoss and the serene Lake Myvatn before circling back. Clocking in at 190 miles (310 kilometers), this road trip is now fully paved (as of 2020!), so you don't *technically* need a 4x4. That being said, if you're planning a self-drive adventure, it's highly recommended to book a 4WD vehicle. Plus, if you're eager to explore the east side of Dettifoss and Selfoss Waterfalls, you'll be navigating a rough, gravel road riddled with potholes. The Diamond Circle is open year-round, but be warned: winter can bring closures to parts of the loop. Always double-check conditions before you set off, and only tackle it if you're a confident driver. While the drive itself takes around 3-4 hours without stops, you'll want to budget a full 10-12 hours to soak it all in. Trust me, with landscapes this otherworldly, you'll be pulling over constantly for photo ops!
extremeGorges du Nan is a defiant balcony road in France
🇫🇷 France
# Gorges du Nan Get ready for one of France's most thrilling cliff-hugging drives! The Gorges du Nan is a spectacular canyon carved by Le Nant River, and the legendary D22 road that winds through it is basically the definition of a white-knuckle adventure. You'll find this beauty in the Isère department, nestled in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region south of Grenoble in southeastern France. The road itself is fully paved, but don't let that fool you—this isn't your typical highway. The real challenge comes along the 9.1 km (5.65 miles) stretch between Malleval-en-Vercors and Cognin-les-Gorges, which runs north-south through the heart of the action. This section is absurdly narrow—we're talking impossibly tight for two cars to pass. Once you hit the first tunnel after Cognin-les-Gorges, things get genuinely exceptional. There are zero pull-offs along the way, so you'll want to power through to Malleval-en-Vercors where you can finally catch your breath. Fair warning: glancing over the railing will make your stomach drop—that's a long way down with just a thin stone barrier between you and the abyss. Expect about 25 minutes of pure concentration to complete the drive. You're navigating through multiple gorges with a steep 3-mile descent, squeezing through a 2.2-meter-wide section, navigating hairpin turns, sharp bends, and blind curves—all while the road is literally cut into the rock face with tunnels carved directly out of the stone. Built back in 1880 when two local villages teamed up to create access to their towns, this secondary road has become legendary. The Vercors region, located within Vercors National Park, was a key Resistance stronghold during WW2, and you'll spot memorials honoring that history as you drive.
moderateWhere is Col de Guéry?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the heart of France, in the Puy-de-Dôme area, ready to tackle the Col de Guéry. This isn't just any drive; you're heading up to 1,268 meters (that's 4,160 feet!), and trust me, the views are worth every meter. You'll find this gem in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, right in the country's center. The summit has a huge parking area, perfect for soaking in the scenery. Oh, and did I mention Lac de Guéry? It's the highest lake in Auvergne, sitting pretty right above the pass. The road, known as Route Départementale 983 (or D983 for short), is all paved, making for a smooth ride, but be ready for some steep climbs – we're talking gradients up to 8.8% in places! This road is iconic enough that the Tour de France has used it! The whole stretch is about 21.6 km (13.42 miles), winding from Randanne (off the N-89) to the charming village of Mont-Dore. Get ready for a scenic drive with views that will take your breath away!
moderateWhere is Route 34?
🌍 Faroe Islands
Okay, picture this: Route 34, winding through the northern part of Suðuroy, that's the southernmost island in the Faroe Islands. You're cruising for about 13.4 kilometers (around 8.3 miles), starting from Trongisvágur – nestled at the end of Trongisvágsfjørður on the east coast – and heading north to Sandvík, the island's northernmost village. This road is your connection between Trongisvágur and Sandvík, slicing right through Suðuroy. Get ready for some serious mountain scenery, and a few tunnels thrown in for good measure. Yup, Route 34 is all paved, but keep an eye out for some narrow spots and potential rockfalls. Conditions can change quickly with the weather and how busy it is. Speaking of tunnels, there are two main ones. First up, the new Hvalbiartunnilin! Opened in 2021, it's a spacious 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) long with two lanes and plenty of headroom. This replaced the old Hvalbiartunnil, which just wasn't cutting it anymore for today's traffic. The new tunnel's located just north of the old one, with freshly built roads leading up to it. Then there's the Sandvíkartunnilin, built back in 1970, but still going strong and getting you to Sandvík. The original Hvalbiartunnilin was the very first road tunnel in the Faroe Islands, but it was small, dark, and only had one lane. It was bypassed in 2021 by a new section of road and the new tunnel. The old tunnel has been fenced off. The new tunnel was built to accommodate larger vehicles.