Golyam Kupen
Bulgaria, europe
4.82 km
1,870 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you find yourself in Bulgaria and crave a serious off-road challenge, Golyam Kupen in Vitosha Mountain is calling your name. This peak sits pretty at 1,870m (6,135ft), and getting there is no joke.
The road, if you can call it that, kicks off near Zheleznitsa and stretches for about 4.82 km (3 miles) of pure, unadulterated gravel and rock. We're talking a relentless climb with an average gradient of almost 17%, but brace yourself for stretches hitting a whopping 25%! Seriously steep!
You'll gain a hefty 816 meters in elevation, so be prepared for breathtaking (literally) views. Oh, and did I mention it's on the edge of a biosphere reserve? Stunning scenery all around.
Word to the wise: this trek isn't for the faint of heart, or those without a serious 4x4 with high clearance. And definitely skip it in winter – impassable! If you make it to the top, you'll find an academic training base. Happy trails!
Where is it?
Golyam Kupen is located in Bulgaria (europe). Coordinates: 42.1661, 25.6310
Road Details
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 4.82 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,870 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 42.1661, 25.6310
Related Roads in europe
extremeWhen was the road to Hahntennjoch built?
🇦🇹 Austria
Okay, picture this: you're in Tyrol, Austria, ready to tackle Hahntennjoch, a mountain pass that clocks in at a cool 1,897 meters (6,223 feet). The views? Insane. Think serpentine curves hugging the mountainside, all wrapped up in classic alpine scenery. This beauty wasn't built overnight, though. It took a small crew of just 10 people from 1948 to 1969 to carve out this route. It started as a gravel path but got upgraded with pavement over time. Speaking of the road itself, it's about 28.4 kilometers (17.64 miles) of pure driving bliss (or terror, depending on your perspective!). Officially known as L266, it runs from Elmen to Imst. Now, let's be real: Hahntennjoch isn't for the faint of heart. It's narrow, it's right on the cliff edge, and during the summer, you'll be sharing the road with some seriously enthusiastic motorcyclists. Keep your eyes peeled! Oh, and the road gets steep, hitting grades of up to 19% in places. Watch out for those cattle grids too! Heads up: Hahntennjoch usually slams shut from November to April because of snow. Also, it's a no-go for vehicles over 14 metric tons. Plus, this area is prone to all sorts of natural drama – avalanches, rockfalls, mudslides – the works. Expect a non-stop drive to take around 35-45 minutes. But the payoff? Glacier-carved valleys, dramatic peaks, and lush forests are everywhere you look. You'll find plenty of cozy restaurants along the way, perfect for a pit stop with a view.
hardJabalcuz, an epic enthralling road
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Deep in the heart of Andalusia, Spain, awaits the epic climb to Jabalcuz peak, a sky-high perch at 1,610 meters. You'll find it nestled in the Montes de Jaén range. Now, getting to the top isn't a Sunday drive. The road throws some serious curveballs – think concrete sections mixing it up with rough, unpaved stretches. A 4x4? Yeah, you'll want one. There's a barrier at 895 meters, so buckle up for the real deal from there. Starting near Urbanización Jabalcuz/Bellavista, you've got about 9.7 kilometers to conquer. Don't let the distance fool you; this road packs an average 9% gradient, with some ramps punching up to a leg-burning 17%! But, oh, the views! Prepare to be wowed by panoramic vistas of Jaén city and the surrounding landscapes. At the summit, you'll even find an old, abandoned forest hut. Pro tip: Hit this drive during the day to soak it all in. Night drives? Maybe not the best idea.
extremeWhere is Col du Gollet?
🇫🇷 France
Col du Gollet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of above sea level, located in the Savoie department of France. Situated at the coordinates , it serves as the gateway to the higher ridges of the Valmorel ski area. Where is Col du Gollet? The pass is located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, within the southeastern part of the country. It sits at the top of the Valmorel ski resort, serving as a critical junction on the ridge. From this point, the track continues its ascent toward the more demanding Road facts: Col du Gollet Unpaved / Two-track / Loose Rocks 4x4 or High-clearance vehicle Is the road to Col du Gollet unpaved? Yes. The route is a rocky two-track service road used primarily for chairlift maintenance and mountain access. As seen on-site, the surface is composed of embedded stones and loose gravel with vegetation growing between the tracks. While it appears stable in dry conditions, the uneven nature of the terrain and the presence of loose scree require a high-clearance vehicle. Standard cars risk bottoming out on the central ridge of the track. How long and steep is the road to Col du Gollet? Starting from Les Avanchers-Valmorel, the ascent covers 4.6km (2.85 miles). The climb is constant and features several open hairpins. Beyond the pass, the road narrows significantly and the terrain becomes more aggressive as it leads towards the higher peaks of the Vanoise range. Is it open year-round? No. Set high in the Massif de la Vanoise, the road is typically impassable from late October to early June due to heavy snow accumulation. During the summer, it is a popular route for hikers and mountain bikers; motorized drivers should exercise extreme caution and yield to non-motorized users on the narrowest sections. Col Saint-Bernard road in Castellar: A brutal 4WD climb in the Alpes-Maritimes How to drive the curvy road to Col de la Taillade in the Pyrenees 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.
hardIpek Geçidi
🇹🇷 Turkey
Okay, adventure junkies, let's talk about the Ipek Geçidi! This high-altitude mountain pass sits way up at 2,025 meters (that's 6,643 feet!) in eastern Turkey, right on the border with Iran, in the Ağrı Province. You'll find it's a well-maintained asphalt road – it's actually part of the D100, also known as the E80 in Europe. This route connects the cities of Doğubayazıt and Ağrı. Be warned, though, the climb can get pretty intense. And heads up, if you're planning a winter trip, keep an eye on the weather forecast, as winter storms can make things interesting, to say the least. But trust me, the views are worth it!