Puerto de San Lorenzo

Puerto de San Lorenzo

Spain, europe

Length

10.4 km

Elevation

1,348 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Puerto de San Lorenzo: A High-Alpine Adventure in Asturias

Nestled in the rugged mountains of northern Spain's Asturias region, Puerto de San Lorenzo sits at a lung-busting 1,348 meters (4,422 feet) above sea level. If you're looking for a proper climbing challenge, this is it—steep doesn't even begin to describe it, with some sections hitting a brutal 18% gradient that'll have your legs burning and your heart racing.

The good news? The whole route is perfectly paved on the AS-265, and it stays open year-round (though winter weather might occasionally force brief closures). Once you've conquered the summit, you'll find a parking lot and viewpoint waiting to reward your effort with absolutely jaw-dropping panoramic views.

Connecting the small villages of San Martín and La Riera, this pass has serious cycling credentials—it's been featured in the Spanish Vuelta. Coming from La Riera de Somiedo, you're looking at a 10.4 km climb with 871 meters of elevation gain and an average gradient of 8.4%. From the San Martín side, it's slightly longer at 10.6 km (867 meters elevation gain, 8.2% average), but either way, you'll encounter plenty of sections where the gradient consistently exceeds 10%.

It might not be the longest pass out there, but don't let that fool you—this is a proper mountain challenge with scenery that makes every brutal pedal stroke totally worth it.

Where is it?

Puerto de San Lorenzo is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 40.9714, -2.5499

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Spain
Continent
europe
Length
10.4 km
Max Elevation
1,348 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
40.9714, -2.5499

Related Roads in europe

Col du Trible: a narrow paved road to the summitmoderate

Col du Trible: a narrow paved road to the summit

🇫🇷 France

Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! If you're cruising around the Ardèche department in the Rhône Valley, France, you HAVE to check out the Col du Trible. It's a mountain pass that hits 540m (or 1,771ft for my fellow imperial system fans), and let me tell you, it's not for the faint of heart. The D265, as it's officially known, stretches for about 8.2 km from Le Chambon de Bavas to Saint-Cierge-la-Serre, running east to west. Now, the pavement is there, but it gets super narrow – think "can't-pass-another-car-without-a-serious-strategy" narrow. Seriously, brush up on your reversing skills! It also throws in some seriously steep sections, with gradients hitting up to 8%. But the views? Totally worth the white-knuckle drive!

Rio-Antirrio bridge is an engineering marvel on the Gulf of Corinthmoderate

Rio-Antirrio bridge is an engineering marvel on the Gulf of Corinth

🇬🇷 Greece

# The Rio-Antirrio Bridge: Greece's Engineering Wonder Spanning the stunning Gulf of Corinth is one of the world's most impressive bridges—the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, officially named after 19th-century Greek prime minister Charilaos Trikoupis. At 2,880 meters long, this cable-stayed marvel connects the Peloponnese town of Rio to Antirrio on the mainland and holds the title of the world's longest cable-stayed bridge with a suspended deck. When it opened in August 2004, it was immediately hailed as an architectural masterpiece. And for good reason—this bridge had to overcome some seriously challenging conditions. The Corinth Gulf sits in one of Europe's most seismically active zones, perched right above one of the world's fastest-opening geological rift zones. Yet engineers designed it to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 7 on the Richter scale, winds exceeding 250 kilometers per hour, and even the impact of a 180,000-tonne tanker moving at full speed. Building here meant tackling some unique obstacles: incredibly deep water (65 meters), unstable foundation materials, powerful winds, constant seismic activity, tsunami risk, and ongoing tectonic movement. But the engineering team pulled it off with innovative solutions that make this bridge one of the most spectacular in the world. Today, the smooth asphalt road carries European Route 65, offering drivers a spectacular crossing between the two regions. It's a stunning drive that showcases human ingenuity at its finest.

Sally Gap is one of the best drives of Irelandextreme

Sally Gap is one of the best drives of Ireland

🌍 Ireland

Okay, buckle up for Sally Gap, a seriously scenic mountain pass sitting pretty at 500m (1,640ft) in County Wicklow, Ireland! Just south of Dublin, smack-dab in Wicklow Mountains National Park, you'll find it. This is proper Irish countryside, folks! There are two main ways to tackle this beauty. The first is the Military Road (R115), stretching 38.6 km (23.98 miles) from Rathfarnham, a Dublin suburb, all the way south to Laragh. This route has some history, built way back in the early 1800s. The second is the Sally Gap Road (R759), winding 27 km (17 miles) from near Roundwood in the east to the N81 in the west. Both routes are paved but don't expect a Sunday drive! We're talking narrow stretches and plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. This place is usually open year-round, but winter can throw a curveball. Snow and ice can make it treacherous, so always check conditions before you go. It gets proper cold up there, so wrap up warm.

How long is the road from Hora Sfakion to Anopolis?moderate

How long is the road from Hora Sfakion to Anopolis?

🇬🇷 Greece

Okay, buckle up buttercups, because the road from Hora Sfakion to Anopolis, nestled on Crete's southern coast in Greece, is a wild ride! If your travel buddies get queasy easily, maybe dose 'em up on ginger beforehand. This paved ribbon stretches for about 11.7 km (or 7.27 miles for you mile-lovers), snaking its way east to west. You'll start in Hóra Sfakíon (also called Sfakia, if you wanna sound like a local), a charming town hugging the coast. Your destination? Anopolis, a sweet little village perched on a plateau about 600m above sea level, right in the White Mountains' embrace. Give yourself around 25 minutes to soak it all in – and that's *without* stopping (good luck with that!). This area is a total knockout: think quiet beaches, crystal-clear water, plus all the good food and wine you can handle. And hiking? Forget about it, you could spend weeks exploring the coast. Seriously, this is Europe's southernmost point, and it's still raw and real. Now, let's be honest: this drive isn't a cakewalk. Picture this: a winding, climbing road etched into a rugged, beautiful landscape. The views out to Gavdos are simply amazing. And with 19 hairpin turns and gradients hitting 10% in places, you might want to downshift and keep your hands on the wheel. Expect steep drops, dramatic scenery, and maybe even a rockslide or two blocking your path. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road, and you will have some of the most breathtaking views anywhere.