
Where is Road SH-21 in Albania?
Albania, europe
55.5 km
1,691 m
hard
Year-round
Yo, adventure junkies! Get ready to conquer SH21, a mind-blowing mountain road tucked away in northern Albania. We're talking Shkodër County, right in the heart of Theth National Park.
This epic stretch runs for 55.5 km (34.4 miles) from Koplik all the way to the tiny village of Theth. Built way back in 1936, it got a fresh layer of pavement in September 2021, so it's smooth sailing (relatively speaking!).
You'll be climbing high into the Albanian Alps, hitting a peak of 1,691m (5,547ft) at the Thore Pass. Fair warning: this road is usually snowed in from November to May, so plan your trip accordingly.
Now, don't get too comfy, this road is not for the faint of heart. It's narrow, with some turnouts along the newly paved sections. Prepare for some seriously steep climbs, with gradients reaching a max of 15% in places! Plus, there are some pretty intense drop-offs, so buckle up and keep your eyes on the road. Oh, and maybe skip it on Sunday afternoons to avoid the crowds. But, hey, if you're not afraid of heights and love a good adrenaline rush, this is your kind of road trip!
Road Details
- Country
- Albania
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 55.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,691 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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