Is the road to the summit unpaved?
Turkey, europe
N/A
3,330 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're kicking around Central Anatolia in Turkey, you HAVE to check out Erciyes Dağı (Mount Erciyes) in Kayseri Province. This extinct volcano isn't just a pretty face; it's got a gnarly unpaved road that claws its way up to a whopping 3,330 meters (that's over 10,900 feet!). Seriously, this is one of the highest drives you can find in the whole country!
Heads up: this isn't your Sunday drive. The entire road to the top is unpaved — it's primarily used to access the Kar Tanesi Tesisleri ski resort chairlift. Prepare for some seriously steep climbs, with gradients hitting up to 15% in places!
When should you go? Well, that's tricky. Mother Nature usually shuts this road down from September to June with heavy snow. If you're brave enough to try it, you absolutely NEED a 4x4 with high clearance. Even then, watch out for avalanches during the snowy months and falling rocks anytime.
But trust me, the views are worth it. Mount Erciyes, historically called Argaeus, is a total knockout, blending epic scenery with a dash of history. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Road Details
- Country
- Turkey
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 3,330 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateClue de Carajuan is a balcony road in France
🇫🇷 France
Clue de Carajuan is a stunning canyon nestled in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France, and it's absolutely one of the country's most spectacular scenic drives. Cruising through this narrow road with dramatic cliff walls towering on either side is genuinely thrilling. Sandwiched between the famous Gorges du Verdon and Clue de Chasteuil, this canyon sits right along the border between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Var departments. It's where the Verdon river carved its way through a limestone band, creating this incredible gorge. Route Départementale D952 is the road that winds through it, fully paved but definitely not for the faint of heart. The narrow stretches require your full attention, but that's part of the adventure. The 25-kilometer (15-mile) stretch runs east-west from Castellane to La Palud-sur-Verdon. The views here are breathtaking—the crystalline Verdon river sparkles far below as you navigate the twisting road with cliff faces rising dramatically around you. Fair warning though: finding a safe spot to pull over for photos is basically impossible, so you'll need to soak in the scenery on the go. That's actually what makes it special—it keeps you present in the moment rather than just collecting Instagram shots.
hardPaion Refuge
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! I just found a killer off-road experience in the Italian Dolomites that you HAVE to add to your bucket list. We're talking about Rifugio Paion, a mountain hut perched way up high in Trentino's Val di Fiemme at over 7,200 feet! Getting there is not for the faint of heart, though. Picture this: a super steep, gravel track winding its way through the Alpe Cermis ski resort. You'll need a 4x4 for this one, trust me. Oh, and plan your trip carefully – this road is usually snowed in from October to June. But the reward is SO worth it! Once you conquer that climb, the views from the Rifugio Paion are absolutely mind-blowing. Seriously, a full 360 degrees of pure alpine glory! You can see iconic peaks like Marmolada, Pale di San Martino, Brenta, Cevedale, and even the Ortles group. Just imagine that panoramic shot for your Insta! Keep in mind, this is primarily a service road for the chairlift, so expect rugged conditions. Get ready for an unforgettable ride!
extremeLago di Alpe Gera
🇮🇹 Italy
# Lago di Alpe Gera: A High-Alpine Adventure If you're up for some serious altitude, Lago di Alpe Gera sits pretty at 2,024 meters (6,640 feet) in the heart of Lombardy's Province of Sondrio. This stunning alpine lake is the ultimate destination for adventurous drivers willing to take on a proper mountain challenge. Here's what you're getting yourself into: The road is mostly paved, which sounds promising until you hit that final kilometer of gravel that'll really get your adrenaline pumping. The route itself is narrow, steep, and features some genuinely creepy unlit tunnels that add a whole extra layer of drama to your ascent. Built between 1960 and 1965, this isn't some newly engineered highway—it's got character, grit, and a serious no-nonsense attitude. Fair warning though: when you arrive, you'll be greeted by a rather ominous warning sign declaring the road officially "not approved for vehicles" due to risks from landslides and avalanches, plus crumbling walls and cliffs without guardrails. Translation? You're driving at your own risk, and the Italian authorities want to make sure you know it. But if you've got the nerves and the right vehicle, the payoff is totally worth it. You're trading smooth pavement for an unforgettable high-alpine experience with views that most casual tourists will never see.
moderateDriving the dizzying paved road to Col du Portillon on the Spanish-French border
🇫🇷 France
# Col du Portillon-Coll de Portilló Ready for a wild ride through the Pyrenees? Col du Portillon-Coll de Portilló sits at 1,293 meters (4,242 feet) and straddles the Spain-France border, connecting the Spanish town of Bossòst in Lleida province with the French alpine village of Bagnères-de-Luchon. It's a seriously scenic 17-kilometer (10.56-mile) east-west route that'll test both your driving skills and your nerve. The fully paved road comes in two flavors: France calls it D618A, while Spain knows it as N-141. Here's the thing though—this pass is *not* for the faint of heart. We're talking 20 hairpin turns that wind their way up the mountain like a corkscrew. If you're prone to motion sickness, maybe grab some ginger candy before you go. The good news? This road is open year-round, making it a solid option for most of the year. Winter can throw some curveballs your way with occasional closures, so check conditions first if you're planning a cold-season adventure. Oh, and if you're into cycling, you've probably heard of this place—the Tour de France has tackled these switchbacks more than once, which tells you everything you need to know about the challenge ahead.