Alto de la Cruz de la Demanda
Spain, europe
15 km
1,855 m
hard
Year-round
# Alto de la Cruz de la Demanda
Nestled on the border between Castile and León and La Rioja in northwestern Spain sits Alto de la Cruz de la Demanda, a stunning mountain peak towering at 1,855 meters (6,085 feet). The road up? That's LR-415, and let me tell you, it's an adventure.
This Category 1 pass starts in Ezcaray and stretches 15 kilometers of paved road that'll definitely keep you on your toes. You'll climb 890 meters total, averaging 5.9% grade—but don't let that fool you. The second half gets seriously gnarly, with pitches hitting 14.2% that'll test both your car and your nerve. The road narrows in places and features a few hairpin turns that add to the drama of the ascent.
One of the cool things? This climb's been featured in Spain's prestigious Vuelta race, so you know it's legit. Traffic is refreshingly light, and the road offers that wonderfully exposed feeling where you really feel the elevation gain. Just note that it's fairly exposed, so conditions matter—this pass closes regularly between November and April when snow and ice make things dicey.
If you're hunting for a challenging climb with real character and incredible mountain scenery, this one definitely delivers.
Where is it?
Alto de la Cruz de la Demanda is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 41.3738, -4.4453
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 15 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,855 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 41.3738, -4.4453
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