
Driving the wild 4x4 road to Svinaskard Pass
Iceland, europe
16.7 km
485 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! Just outside Reykjavík, where the city fades into the wild Icelandic countryside of Kjósarhreppur, lies Svínaskarð Pass, a true test of your driving mettle. Locals whisper it’s one of Iceland's toughest drives.
This ain't your average Sunday cruise, folks. "The Pass of Pigs," as it's known, hasn’t seen much love since cars first tackled it back in 1930. Forget pavement; it's all about that rugged, unyielding terrain on Svínaskarðsleið. Trust me, you'll want a proper 4x4 and some serious off-road skills.
Heading north from the summit (at a cool 485m!), prepare for a wild descent. Think hairpin turns hugging a mountainside, plunging into a cliff-lined ravine. It's steep, narrow, and those turns? Razor sharp. Parts of the road are so intense your car might just start sliding down the loose rock!
Clocking in at just over 16km (10ish miles), this north-south adventure connects Kjósarskarðsvegur (Road 48) with Þingvallavegur (Road 36). The views, though? Absolutely epic. Just make sure you keep your eyes on the road… this one demands respect!
Where is it?
Driving the wild 4x4 road to Svinaskard Pass is located in Iceland (europe). Coordinates: 65.2304, -18.4754
Road Details
- Country
- Iceland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 16.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 485 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 65.2304, -18.4754
Related Roads in europe
easyWhere is Col du Pourtalet?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, picture this: Col du Pourtalet, straddling the border between Spain and France at a cool 5,898 feet. You'll find it chilling on the edge of Parc National des Pyrénées, linking the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in France with the province of Huesca in Spain. This used to be a full-on border crossing, and you can still spot the old border post! Ready to drive it? The road, also known as El Portalet or Portalet d'Aneu, is paved from end to end. It's about 34 miles long, running north-south from Laruns (France) to Biescas (Spain). Weekends and summer can get a bit busy, so plan accordingly. If you're coming from Biescas, the climb is around 18 miles with a 3% average grade. It's a pretty fast, wide-open road with killer scenery. The road's built for ski resort traffic, so you know it's coach-friendly! Now, tackling the French side (from Laruns), you're in for about 18 miles of climbing. Expect three main "ramps" at around 7% grade, mixed with longer, gentler slopes. You'll cruise through gorges, alpine meadows, and authentic Pyrenean villages. It's generally an easy climb, sticking around 5%, with one steeper section near a dam. Plus, traffic's usually not too bad. The payoff at the top? Incredible views of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau mountain and the Cirque d’Anéou, where sheep and cows graze peacefully. You can also grab some grub at the supermarkets, bars, and restaurants before heading back down. The pass connects the Ossau (France) and Tena (Spain) valleys, too. Heads up, the climb can get pretty steep in sections, hitting almost 9% on some ramps. And while it's usually open in winter, heavy snow can close it for a couple of days.
hardTossa d'Alp
🇪🇸 Spain
# Tossa d'Alp: A Wild Mountain Adventure in Catalonia Ready for some serious off-road action? Tossa d'Alp is a beast of a peak sitting at 2,535m (8,316ft) in the heart of Catalonia's Spanish Pyrenees. It's legitimately one of Spain's highest drivable roads, and honestly, it's not for the faint of heart. The route to the summit—locals call it La Tossa—is raw, unfiltered mountain driving. We're talking gravel, rocks, washboard terrain, and sections that'll test your suspension (and your nerve). It doubles as a chairlift access trail, which tells you something about the terrain. Winter? Forget about it—this road is completely impassable when snow rolls in. Here's the real talk: you'll need a 4x4 with serious clearance, and you need to know what you're doing. If unpaved mountain roads make you sweat, keep scrolling. The climb is genuinely steep, and if heights aren't your thing, maybe save this one for another trip. Throw in some rain, and that muddy surface becomes a legitimate puzzle. But if you're an experienced wheeler looking for something wild, this is your playground. The payoff? You'll find the Refugi Niu d'Àliga Shelter at the summit—reportedly the highest mountain shelter in the entire Pyrenees. Tucked within the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, the scenery is absolutely stunning. Just come prepared, come skilled, and come ready for an unforgettable ride.
hardWhere is Mont Fallere?
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, adventurers, listen up! I've got a trek for you in the northwestern part of the country near Mont Fallère that'll take your breath away – literally! This 7 km (4.34 miles) beast of a road winds its way up to a mountain refuge with an elevation gain of 684 meters! We're talking hairpin turns and seriously steep sections, with an average gradient of almost 10%. You'll be climbing to a whopping 2,377 m (7,798 ft) above sea level, and if you're feeling extra ambitious, a trail north of the hut will take you even higher, to 2,404 m (7,887 ft). A word of caution: this isn't a drive for your average car. A 4x4 vehicle is a MUST. The road is usually open from late June to the end of September but closed to private vehicles. Prepare yourself for some insane scenery, heart-pumping climbs, and memories that will last a lifetime.
moderateWhere is Los Portillinos?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, so you HAVE to check out Los Portillinos, a crazy-cool mountain pass sitting way up at 6,420 feet in northern Spain! You'll find it chilling in the Castilla y León region, specifically the northwestern part of the country. Locals also call it Alto de los Portillinos, and the road is paved, though it can get a little rough in spots. You'll be cruising through the gorgeous Fornela valley. It winds up through the Montes de León mountain range. Word to the wise: it's usually open all year, but winter can be a bit dicey with occasional closures. If you're feeling extra adventurous, there's a gravel road that branches off east towards a peak called Mustallar. The whole pass is only 6.8 km long, running between Peranzanes and Candín, and honestly? You'll probably have the road mostly to yourself! Soak in those views!