Carretera Agost, a winding road only for experienced drivers
Spain, europe
17 km
713 m
hard
Year-round
Cruising through the heart of Spain's Vinalopó Mitjà, in Alicante, you'll find the wild Carretera Agost. This mountain road isn't for the faint of heart!
Winding high in the Sierra del Maigmó range, Carretera Agost is mostly wide enough to squeeze past oncoming traffic – but keep your eyes peeled, because you probably won't see many other cars. Still, best brush up on your reversing skills, just in case!
This 17km (10.5 mile) stretch from Petrer to Agost plunges right through the El Maigmo Nature Reserve, serving up unreal views of pine forests sliced with crazy canyons. Expect serious climbs and drops, hairpin turns, and some pretty intense drop-offs. The highest point hits 713m (2,339ft), and buckle up – you'll hit a maximum gradient of 19% on some of those ramps!
About halfway, you'll stumble upon Rincon Bello Recreation Area, complete with parking, restrooms, and seating. Perfect spot to stretch your legs or kick off a hike. Keep rolling for another 10km of rollercoaster roads and scenery, and you'll hit Agost, a town famed for its pottery. Geocaching fans, there's a whole series of caches along the 4km stretch from Rincon Bello toward Agost.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 17 km
- Max Elevation
- 713 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
hardAverau Refuge
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, picture this: You're in the Italian Dolomites, ready for an adventure. You're headed to Rifugio Averau, a mountain refuge sitting pretty at 2,418 meters (that's 7,933 feet!). Now, getting there isn't a Sunday drive. The road is a gravelly, rocky, and sometimes bumpy track that’ll test your off-roading skills. We're talking a proper 4x4 job here, folks. Think steep climbs, potentially a bit tippy, and definitely not for the faint of heart if you're scared of heights! FYI, this road is usually snowed in from October to June, so plan accordingly. But if you're an experienced off-roader and the weather cooperates, you’re in for a treat. The views? Unreal! Think indescribable landscapes and mind-blowing vistas of the Dolomites. Plus, the refuge itself has a cool history – it started as a basic wooden shack way back when, before being upgraded to a brick building in 1903. Get ready for some spectacular scenery and an unforgettable drive!
hardWhere is Signal de Botrange?
🌍 Belgium
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the Hautes Fagnes region of the Ardennes in Liège, heading towards Belgium's rooftop, Signal de Botrange! At 694 meters (that's 2,277 ft!), it's the highest point in the whole country! You'll find this gem nestled in eastern Belgium, super close to the German border, chilling in the Hautes Fagnes-Eifel Nature Park. What's the big deal? Well, besides bragging rights, you've got a parking lot, a weather station, and the Baltia Tower – a cool stone structure built way back in 1923 to boost the summit above 700 meters. Expect cooler temps up here, too. The route? It's a smooth 18 km (11.18 miles) paved ride, starting from Eupen, mostly along the N676-N68. Get ready for some sweet views and a fun little road trip to the top of Belgium!
hardPas de Coterieux
🇫🇷 France
Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! Pas de Coterieux in the French Alps is calling your name! Nestled way up high in Savoie, we're talking 2,526 meters (that's over 8,000 feet!) of pure alpine goodness. Word of warning: this isn't your average Sunday drive. This "road" is actually more of a rocky, gravelly, and occasionally bumpy trail, only accessible by chairlift most of the time! You'll be traversing the stunning Massif des Cerces range. It's usually a no-go zone from October to June, thanks to the weather. This one's strictly for experienced off-roaders with a trusty 4x4. If you're not comfortable with heights or super steep climbs, maybe skip this one. But if you're game? Get ready for some seriously breathtaking scenery.
moderateSilvretta High Alpine Road
🇦🇹 Austria
# The Silvretta High Alpine Road Picture this: a 22.3-kilometer stretch of pure Alpine magic winding through Austria's Silvretta range. This toll road connects the charming Montafon valley town of Partenen with Galtur over in the Paznaun valley, and honestly, it's one of those drives that'll leave you speechless. Built over sixteen years (1938-1954), the road climbs up to the Bielerhöhe pass—sitting pretty at 2,036 meters—where you'll find the jaw-dropping Silvretta reservoir. Seriously, this water is *spectacularly* turquoise, like someone spilled liquid gemstones everywhere. That surreal color comes from glacial silt, and it creates this incredible contrast against the grey granite peaks and white glaciers surrounding it. The reservoir sits right at the base of Piz Buin, Vorarlberg's highest peak at 3,312 meters, making for some seriously photogenic moments. The engineering here is wild: 30 hairpin bends snake their way through a landscape straight out of a dream—glaciers, mountain streams cascading down, pristine alpine meadows. It's the kind of scenery that makes you want to pull over every five minutes to just take it all in. Once you reach the summit, the Bielerhöhe becomes your launchpad for hiking and mountaineering adventures throughout the range. And here's the best part: while everyone flocks to Austria's famous Grossglockner road, this gem stays refreshingly under-the-radar, offering equally stunning views without the crowds.