An old, narrow road full of holes to the top of Los Pelaos in Andalusia
Spain, europe
9.5 km
1,873 m
extreme
Year-round
# Los Pelaos: A Wild Mountain Adventure in Andalusia
Ready for an unforgettable ride? Los Pelaos is a stunning high mountain peak perched at 1,873m (6,145ft) in Granada's Sierra de Lújar range, smack in the heart of southern Spain's Alpujarra mountains. This isn't your typical Sunday drive—it's an adrenaline-pumping challenge that'll test both you and your vehicle.
Starting from Puerto Camacho on the A-4131 Road, you'll tackle a 9.5 km (5.90 miles) climb that gains a whopping 734 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 7.72%, but don't be fooled—some sections ramp up to a brutal 17%. Throw in 13 hairpin turns, and you've got yourself quite the adventure.
Here's the thing: this road is legitimately rough. Originally built back in the 1960s to reach the communication towers (Repetidores de Lújar) at the summit, it's aged like a neglected classic car. We're talking grass pushing through cracked asphalt, massive potholes, loose stones, and a surface so bumpy it'll rattle your teeth. The final stretch? A narrow, pothole-riddled mess that'll have you questioning your life choices—but in the best way possible.
While technically drivable in a regular car, this is really mountain biking territory. The rough, deteriorated tarmac is part of the charm, honestly.
But here's the payoff: reach the summit and you're rewarded with jaw-dropping 360° panoramic views stretching across the sea and the entire Alpujarras landscape. Absolutely worth every pothole.
Where is it?
An old, narrow road full of holes to the top of Los Pelaos in Andalusia is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 39.6948, -3.3457
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,873 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 39.6948, -3.3457
Related Roads in europe
extremeCan you drive the Glen Quaich?
🇬🇧 Scotland
Located in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, Glen Quaich is one of the most picturesque yet dangerous roads in the country. It's one of the highest roads of the country Can you drive the Glen Quaich? It’s said to be one of the most stunning drives in Scotland. The road is totally paved but extremely narrow in parts. The road is unsuitable for caravans, trailers, and long vehicles as there are very few passing places. The road is very steep, hitting a 17% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. How long is Glen Quaich? The road is 17.38km (10.8 miles) long, running east-west from Amulree to Kenmore. It’s a two-way road with traffic able to travel in both directions. Is Glen Quaich worth it? Set high in the Highlands of Scotland, the drive offers stunning views of Loch Freuchie. This road offers keen drivers a chance to experience a few minutes of driving on steeply winding roads and allows passengers to absorb breathtaking scenery. Surrounded by green fields and patches of woodlands, this drive is not for the faint-hearted. It tops out at 538m (1,765ft) above sea level. The road is very treacherous in winters and can pose a danger to the public in winter conditions. It can become especially risky when temperatures drop. Travelling the General Wade’s Military Road from Inverness to Fort Augustus Cairnwell Pass is a sensational steep drive in Scotland 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.
hardPresolana Pass
🇮🇹 Italy
# Passo della Presolana Tucked away in Bergamo Province in Italy's Lombardy region, Passo della Presolana sits at a cool 1,297 meters (4,255 feet) above sea level—and it's absolutely worth the drive to get there. The road up is fully paved (SPexSS671), but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a leisurely cruise. This route is serious business, with tight hairpin bends that'll keep you on your toes and grades that hit 14% in some sections. It's the kind of climb that'll get your adrenaline pumping—and your car working hard. You've got two main starting points, depending on your preference. Coming from Dezzo di Scalve, you're looking at a shorter but spicier 7.95 km push with 548 meters of elevation gain (averaging 6.9%). Prefer a gentler pace? Start from Rovetta instead, and you'll tackle 11.95 km with 651 meters of gain averaging 5.4%—still challenging, but a bit more forgiving. This pass has earned some serious street cred too—the legendary Giro d'Italia race has tested cyclists on these very roads, so you know you're on something special.
moderateThe Wild Road to Tuc de la Llança
🇪🇸 Spain
Tuc de la Llança is a stunning high mountain peak sitting pretty at 2,503m (8,211ft) in Lleida province, Spain – and it's seriously one of the country's highest roads. Tucked away in the Catalonian Pyrenees up north, this summit is an absolute showstopper for views. On a clear day, you'll be gazing out at panoramic sweeps of the entire Pyrenees range, with jaw-dropping peaks like Maladeta and Pico Aneto (both towering over 3,000m) commanding your attention. Fair warning though: this isn't your typical Sunday drive. The road is completely unpaved – it's basically a chairlift access trail for the Vaqueira-Beret ski resort, and you'll absolutely need a 4x4 to tackle it. Starting from Port de la Bonaigua, it's a compact 2.7 km (1.67 miles) push to the top, but don't let that short distance fool you. You're gaining 371m in elevation with an average gradient of nearly 14%, which means it's steep, demanding, and genuinely thrilling. Here's the catch: this route is completely impassable from October through June due to heavy snow and brutal weather conditions. So if you're dreaming of conquering this peak, mark your calendar for the summer months only. It's a wild, technical drive through one of Europe's most dramatic mountain landscapes – definitely worth the adrenaline rush if you're up for the challenge.
hardMoucherotte
🇫🇷 France
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! I've got the inside scoop on an insane climb in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France: Moucherotte! This beast of a peak tops out at 1,863 meters (6,112 feet), and the road to the summit is pure, unadulterated gravel. Heads up, it's usually snowed in from October to June, weather depending. Here’s the backstory: there used to be this super swanky hotel, Le Ermitage, built in '59, complete with a cable car straight from Grenoble. It was THE place to be, attracting the jet set, even Brigitte Bardot! There was also a 90-meter ski jump built for the 1968 Grenoble Olympics. Sadly, the good times didn't last, and the hotel and lift were abandoned, falling into disrepair. The hotel and summit even played a role in Brigitte Bardot's movie "La Bride sur le cou" ("The Bride of the neck"). The ruins of the hotel were finally demolished along with the cable car station in the summer of 2001. Now, about that climb… It's only 4.3 kilometers from Saint Nizier du Moucherotte, but pack your courage! You'll gain a whopping 698 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 16.23% – seriously steep! But trust me, the views are SO worth it. You’re smack-dab in the Vercors Natural Regional Park. The Moucherotte is the most northerly summit of the Vercors massif, which means panoramic vistas galore. There are official viewpoints, but honestly, you'll want to pull over everywhere. From the top, you can see the French Alps (including Mont Blanc!), Grenoble, and the Chartreuse massif. To the west lies the Four Mountain region of the Vercors. And if you look south, you'll spot peaks like Pic Saint Michel, Grand Moucherolle and Mont Aiguille. Get your cameras ready, because the Moucherotte summit is a photographer's dream!