Portes de Culet

Portes de Culet

Switzerland, europe

Length

42 km

Elevation

1,787 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Portes de Culet: A Swiss Alpine Challenge

Looking for a proper mountain workout? The Portes de Culet pass in Switzerland's Valais canton delivers exactly that at 1,787 meters (5,862 feet) above sea level.

Starting from the village of Morgins, you'll tackle Rue du Vigneron—a narrow, relentless stretch of tarmac that'll test your driving skills. The 4.2-kilometer climb packs in 478 meters of elevation gain, averaging a gnarly 11.38% gradient with some sections hitting a brutal 19%. Yeah, it's steep. Really steep.

But here's the thing: if you're up for the challenge, you'll be rewarded with some seriously stunning alpine scenery. Just take it steady, watch those hairpins, and enjoy the ride as you snake your way up this impressive Swiss pass.

Where is it?

Portes de Culet is located in Switzerland (europe). Coordinates: 46.7136, 7.9271

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Switzerland
Continent
europe
Length
42 km
Max Elevation
1,787 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
46.7136, 7.9271

Related Roads in europe

Col de Joux Plane is one of the six major passes of the French Alpshard

Col de Joux Plane is one of the six major passes of the French Alps

🇫🇷 France

# Col de Joux Plane: A Northern Alps Beast Worth the Suffering If you're hunting for one of France's most legendary cycling climbs, Col de Joux Plane needs to be on your radar. Sitting at 1,697m (5,567ft) in Haute-Savoie, near the Swiss border, this pass shares elite company with the Galibier, Izoard, and Alpe d'Huez as one of the six major peaks that define the French Alps cycling scene. The paved D354 connecting Morzine to the south and Samoëns to the north is deceptively short at 23.7 km (14.72 miles), but don't let that fool you—this road is a proper gut-check. From Morzine, you're looking at 10.9 km with 711m of elevation gain (6.5% average). From Samoëns? That's 11.6 km gaining 989m with a punishing 8.5% average. Some sections hit a brutal 15% gradient, and the road's narrow, often single-lane character makes it feel even more intense. Here's the kicker: the entire slope faces south. If you're planning a summer attempt, seriously get an early start or you'll be cooking in the heat with nowhere to hide. Reach the summit and you'll find Le Relais des Vallées bar and a parking area. Push a bit further on the gravel road north and you'll hit the true summit at 1,714m, where views of Mont-Blanc will make every painful pedal stroke worthwhile. Tour de France directors love throwing this at cyclists for a reason—it's relentless from either direction, but the Samoëns side is genuinely one of Haute-Savoie's toughest climbs. While it might not have the star power of its southern cousins, Joux Plane absolutely belongs in the conversation of Northern Alps legends.

Is Strada Provinciale 349 (SP349) paved?hard

Is Strada Provinciale 349 (SP349) paved?

🇮🇹 Italy

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the Vicenza Pre-Alps in Italy's Veneto region, and you stumble upon the SP349, a.k.a. the Salita del Costo. This mountain road isn't just any road; it's a real heart-pumper! Don't worry, the pavement is smooth and well-maintained. What makes it thrilling are the seemingly endless twists, hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills, and some seriously steep inclines. This isn't a Sunday drive; it's an adventure! The Salita del Costo stretches for almost 10 kilometers, with an average gradient of 6%. The route begins in Bramonte and climbs to Campiello, entirely within the Municipality of Cogollo del Cengio. If you happen to be there at the right time, you might even catch the Salita del Costo di Asiago, a famous race that brings roaring engines to this beautiful landscape.

Col de Menté and Col de la Clin: Driving the 25 hairpins of the Haute-Garonneextreme

Col de Menté and Col de la Clin: Driving the 25 hairpins of the Haute-Garonne

🇫🇷 France

# Col de Menté: A Pyrenean Classic You Can't Miss Tucked away in the Haute-Garonne region of southwestern France, Col de Menté is one of those legendary Alpine passes that deserves a spot on every mountain road enthusiast's bucket list. Rising to 1,347m (4,419ft), this beauty combines perfectly with its neighbor, Col de la Clin, to create an absolutely stunning high-altitude loop through the Occitania region. Fair warning: this route has serious cycling credentials and earned its reputation for a reason. The D44 stretches 15.6 km (9.69 miles) from the charming town of Saint-Béat-Lez in the Garonne valley to Ger de Boutx, carving its way through gorgeous deciduous forests and dramatic rocky outcrops that scream "Central Pyrenees." Just east of the main pass, you'll link up with Col de la Clin (sitting at 1,250m), letting you stay high on the ridges and skip the lower valley floors entirely. Here's the real deal: the road is fully paved, but this is a proper mountain route. The D44 gets seriously narrow in spots, and those 25 hairpin turns climb relentlessly from the valley—we're talking sharp, tight switchbacks that demand your complete attention. The asphalt is generally solid, though you might hit some bumpy sections thanks to winter freeze-thaw cycles and the occasional rockfall along the edges. Descending toward Ger de Boutx requires some serious low-gear work. Don't sleep on Col de la Clin just because Menté gets the glory. This second pass is the secret sauce that keeps you riding the high ridges with views that'll take your breath away. It's the road less traveled, and honestly? That's exactly why it's worth exploring. You'll feel like you've discovered something truly wild. That said, respect the hazards. Those 25 switchbacks combined with extreme steepness are no joke. Winter brings heavy snow and ice that'll test even experienced drivers, and summer roads get packed with cyclists on blind corners—stay sharp. Above 1,300 meters, fog can roll in out of nowhere and kill your visibility instantly. Always check the weather before you go—mountain rain on steep asphalt is genuinely treacherous. But if conditions are right? You're in for an unforgettable drive.

Where is Gaizinkalns?moderate

Where is Gaizinkalns?

🌍 Latvia

Okay, picture this: You're cruising through eastern Latvia, heading into the Vidzeme Highlands. Your destination? Gaizinkalns, the big kahuna of Latvia's hills, topping out at 311 meters (a little over 1,000 feet). The adventure really begins when you leave the paved P81 highway in Bērzaune. From there, it's about 11.2 kilometers (almost 7 miles) on a completely unpaved road leading to a parking lot. It's bumpy but manageable. Once parked, stretch your legs and take a short walk to conquer Latvia's highest point! You can even traverse the whole hilltop – it’s only about a kilometer! Keep an eye out for the views from the four slopes, each with its own dramatic name: "Ladies' Paradise," "The Western Slope," "The Lesser Golgotha," and "Golgotha." Sounds intense, right? Word to the wise: there's an old, Cold War-era watchtower at the summit, standing about 45 meters high. It's super tempting to climb, but trust me, it's wrecked and off-limits. It's a cool relic from the past, but definitely admire it from afar. Expect January temps to hover around -6°C, while July brings a more moderate +16.5°C. Pack your raincoat, because this region sees a good amount of rainfall (around 750 mm). And if you're visiting in winter, prepare for snow – they get a thick blanket, averaging over 40 cm!