
Where is Somport Pass?
Spain, europe
16.2 km
1,637 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the border of France and Spain, high up in the Pyrenees Mountains. You're tackling the Puerto de Somport-Col du Somport, an international mountain pass that tops out at a cool 1,637 meters (5,370 feet).
This beauty connects the province of Huesca in Spain with the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in France, nestled between the Aragón and Aspe river valleys. The name? It's all about location, location, location – "summus portus" in Latin, meaning the highest port.
Get ready for a 16.2 km (10.06 miles) paved adventure from Canfranc-Estación in Spain to Les Forges d'Abel in France. This road, also known as Port of Aspe or Port of Canfranc (N330a), has even played host to the Tour de France and Vuelta a España – so expect some steep climbs, with ramps hitting a 10% grade in places.
The pass is usually open year-round, but keep an eye on the weather. If things get too wild, there's always the Túnel de Somport, an 8.6 kilometre (5.3 mi) long tunnel that bypasses the pass that's open all year.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 16.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,637 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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