Ceresole Tunnel is the steepest tunnel in the Italian Alps
Italy, europe
3.5 km
1,172 m
hard
Year-round
Cruising through the Italian Piedmont region, just outside Turin, you'll find the wild Ceresole Tunnel. Nestled way up in the Graian Alps, right in Gran Paradiso National Park, this baby is a thrill!
Clocking in at 3.5km, this paved tunnel is part of the SP460 road. It's well-lit and roomy, but hold on tight because it's rumored to be the steepest tunnel in the Alps, with sections hitting a crazy 14-16% grade! You start at 1172m above sea level and climb to 1456m, gaining 284 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 8%!
If you're feeling adventurous, ditch the tunnel and take the old service road to the left. It's a repaved beauty (thanks, Giro d'Italia!) with three hairpin turns and views for days. Prepare for a challenging 10-15% slope, but the waterfalls, overhangs, and the Orco stream will totally make up for it. Get ready for an epic Alpine experience!
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 3.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,172 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateIs Road 61 in Iceland paved?
🇮🇸 Iceland
Get ready for an unforgettable Icelandic adventure on Route 61, also known as Djúpavegur, the Midnight Sun Road! This fully paved coastal gem snakes through the stunning Westfjords region. Stretching 249 km (155 miles) from Road 60 to Ísafjörður, the Westfjords' biggest town, this route promises epic views and relatively little traffic. Budget about 3-4 hours of pure driving time, but trust me, you'll want to stop! Keep in mind, though, that this road isn't entirely without its challenges. It climbs to 440m (1,443ft) at the Steingrimsfjörðurheiði Pass, with some seriously steep sections. Winter travelers, take note: this pass can get dicey and often closes due to high winds or storms. Always check weather and road conditions before you go. One quirky highlight? Keep an eye out for the roadside cairns, those cool stacks of stones that help guide you along the way.
moderateDriving the dizzying paved road to Coll de Portilló on the Spanish-French border
🇪🇸 Spain
# Col du Portillon-Coll de Portilló Ready for some serious Pyrenees vibes? The Col du Portillon-Coll de Portilló sits pretty at 1,293 meters (4,242 feet) straddling the France-Spain border between Haute-Garonne in southwestern France and Lleida in Catalonia. The summit marks the exact border crossing, so you're literally hopping between countries as you drive. This 17-kilometer (10.56-mile) east-west route connects the charming village of Bossòst in Aran with the spa town of Bagnères-de-Luchon, and the entire road is beautifully paved. You'll tackle it as the D618A from the French side or the N-141 from Spain. Now, here's the thing—this pass is famous for a reason. Twenty hairpin turns snake their way up the mountain, offering incredible views but definitely testing your nerve. If tight curves and altitude make you queasy, this might not be your vibe. But if you love a thrilling drive, you're in for a treat. The road has even earned its stripes as a Tour de France cycling route, so you know it's legit. The Pyrenees setting is spectacular year-round, and the pass typically stays open throughout the year. Just be aware that winter can bring temporary closures, so always check conditions before heading up. If you're chasing alpine scenery and don't mind a challenging drive, this col is absolutely worth the detour.
moderateA memorable road trip to Lai da Vons
🇨🇭 Switzerland
# Lai da Vons: Alpine Beauty in the Swiss Mountains Hidden away in the Beverin Nature Park sits Lai da Vons, a stunning high-altitude lake perched at 1,991m (6,532ft) where the Rheinwald forest meets Val Schons in Graubünden's Hinterrhein district. It's the kind of place that makes you understand why people fall in love with the Swiss Alps. Getting there is an adventure in itself. The route follows Gütersträsschen, a charming little mountain road that's mostly paved until those final, grittier sections. Fair warning: it's narrow and seriously steep in places—we're talking grades up to 12%—so take your time and enjoy the ride. Coming from Andeer? Buckle up for an 11km climb that'll gain you 1,095 meters of elevation (averaging a solid 10% grade). If you're starting from Sufers instead, it's a slightly shorter but equally intense 6.3km push with 657 meters of elevation gain at an average of 10.4%. Either way, your legs and your brakes will feel it. But here's the payoff: once you reach that serene alpine lake, you're rewarded with absolutely breathtaking panoramic views stretching across the Sufers reservoir and all the way to the Rheinwald. It's one of those moments where the effort completely disappears and you're just left thinking, "Wow, this was totally worth it."
extremeWhere is Pic Blanc?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! Deep in the Isère department of France, you'll find Pic Blanc, a beast of a mountain peaking at 3,305m (10,843ft)! Nestled in the Grandes Rousses massif, this is one of Europe's highest roads, offering seriously epic views... if you dare! The road? Oh, it's unpaved, rough as anything, and brutally steep in sections – we're talking gradients averaging 20%! It's an 8.1 km (5.03 miles) climb from a turnoff on the road to Alpe d’Huez. This one's not for the faint of heart; it winds and climbs relentlessly to a chairlift, but is closed to public vehicles. Word to the wise: even in summer, this road can be impassable. So, make sure you check conditions before attempting this ultimate alpine adventure.