
Piau-Engaly
France, europe
19.65 km
1,870 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so you HAVE to check out the D118 in the Hautes-Pyrénées of southwestern France! This winding road takes you up to Piau-Engaly ski resort, perched at a cool 1,870m (6,135ft).
The road is paved, but hold on tight – it's a wild ride! Think 16 hairpin turns and some seriously steep sections that max out at almost 12%!
This climb is so epic, the Tour de France has used it! Starting from Saint Lary Soulan, you're looking at a 19.65 km ascent, gaining a whopping 1,030 meters in elevation. The average grade is around 5.2%, but those last 7 kilometers? Pure magic. It's super quiet, with tons of hairpins, and you finish surrounded by stunning mountain views. Get ready for an unforgettable drive!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 19.65 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,870 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
extremeWhere is Road SH40?
🇦🇱 Albania
Ready for a seriously off-the-beaten-path adventure in Albania? Then SH40, aka "The Journey to Hell," might just be your cup of tea! Located between Shkodër and Lezhë counties in the northwestern part of the country, this wild ride leads to the infamous Spaç Prison, a haunting relic of Albania's communist past. Prepare to be transported back in time as you explore this chilling historical site. The road itself? Think 25.9 km (16.09 miles) of pure, unadulterated dirt road stretching from Reps to Kimëz. While most cars can handle it when it's dry, a high-clearance vehicle is definitely your best bet. Winding its way up to a max elevation of 1,170m (3,838ft), SH40 is a rollercoaster of narrow sections, steep gradients, hairpin turns, and heart-stopping drop-offs. Oh, and did we mention the unlit tunnels? This road ain't for the faint of heart, but the views are killer! Just keep your eyes on the road, not the scenery!
moderatePalovit Falls
🇹🇷 Turkey
Palovit Selalesi is a waterfall located in Rize Province, in northeast Turkey, on the eastern Black Sea coast. The road is narrow and steep. The exhausting road is mostly paved (in bad conditions) and very narrow. It shouldn’t be attempted by those who don't know how to reverse. It’s pretty steep, and drivable in an ordinary car in dry weather in summer by confident, careful drivers. Located in Kaçkar Mountains National Park, this famous waterfall in a lush forest, falls from about 15 m high, in one of Turkey's most beautiful valleys, the Firtina (Storm) Valley. Pic: Валентина Копчева The Ultimate Guide to Traveling to Mount Davraz 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.
hardA narrow scenic road to Mont Tendre
🇨🇭 Switzerland
# Mont Tendre: A Hidden Gem in the Jura Tucked away in Switzerland's Jura mountains in the Vaud canton, Mont Tendre is one of those thrilling mountain passes that'll make your heart race. We're talking 1,679 meters (5,508 feet) of Alpine goodness, and honestly? It's absolutely worth the drive. Starting from Montrichier, you're looking at just over 8 kilometers of pure climbing—782 meters of elevation gain to be precise. That works out to an average gradient of 9.7%, though the road kicks up to a gnarly 14% at its steepest points. The asphalt ends at the Chalet du Mont Tendre (1,615m), where a welcoming restaurant awaits weary climbers. Here's the thing: this is a single-lane road winding through dense forest, which means it's wonderfully quiet and traffic-free. But that peaceful vibe comes with a caveat—those blind hairpin turns demand serious respect. Take them slowly, stay alert, and you'll be fine. If you love that raw, tree-lined climb experience with minimal crowds, Mont Tendre absolutely delivers. The scenery is quintessentially Jura—all forested mountainsides and that satisfying sense of real adventure that disappears on busier routes.
hardCan you drive through Topolia Gorge?
🇬🇷 Greece
Craving an off-the-beaten-path adventure on Crete? Head inland from Kissamos, in western Chania, and prepare for a stunning drive through the Topolia Gorge! This isn't your average Sunday cruise. The road snakes for about 10.5 km (6.5 miles) between Topolia and Elos, carving a path through the Cretan mountains. You'll be driving high, with views for days! The road is paved, but be warned: it's seriously narrow. The gorge itself is dramatic, carved by the River Tyflos, with vertical walls towering up to 300 meters! Locals whisper about fairies and goddesses dwelling in these dramatic landscapes. The highlight (or lowlight, depending on your nerves!) is the Topolia Tunnel, a single-lane, unlit passage dating back to the 1920s. At only 4 meters wide and 110 meters long, it's a tight squeeze, and traffic lights control the flow. Legend has it, this is the only tunnel on Crete that was dug entirely by hand! Allow 25-30 minutes to drive without stopping, but trust me, you'll WANT to stop. There are viewpoints galore for snapping photos, and don't miss the Cave of Agia Sofia and its namesake church, perched just above the road. Plus, you'll often find local vendors selling their goods near the gorge, before you reach the tunnel. Just a heads up: this stretch can get crowded in August, so hit the road early to beat the traffic!