
Where are the Gorges du Guiers Mort?
France, europe
9.9 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the Isère department of France, just north of Grenoble, in the stunning Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. You're about to hit the Gorges du Guiers Mort, a seriously scenic canyon carved by the Guiers Mort river. Get ready for the D520B, also known as Route du Désert. This balcony road is totally paved and winds for about 10 km from Saint-Laurent-du-Pont to La Diat, right in the heart of the Chartreuse Natural Regional Park. But heads up! This incredible road is carved right into the mountainside, so watch out for rock slides. Also, if you're rolling in something taller than 3.8m, you're out of luck. Expect some super-narrow tunnels and get ready for views that will blow your mind!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.9 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in europe
moderateCol du Coin
🇫🇷 France
Okay, picture this: Col du Coin, a legit mountain pass chilling at 2,275 meters (that's 7,463 feet for my American friends) way up in the French Alps. Seriously epic views from up there! Now, getting there? Adventure time! We're talking mostly gravel roads, and some pavement. It gets pretty rocky and bumpy, and you'll definitely be tipping back and forth. Winter? Forget about it – this road is CLOSED. This trail is really better suited for people who know their way around off-road driving. If you're not confident on unpaved mountain roads, maybe skip this one. A 4x4 is pretty much essential. And if heights aren't your thing? Yeah, this one's gonna be a no. Expect some seriously steep sections. Also, if it's wet, things get muddy and slippery – so be warned!
extremeCrossing the scary Tunnel de Parpaillon in the Cottian Alps
🇫🇷 France
# Parpaillon Tunnel Tucked away in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France sits the Parpaillon Tunnel, a jaw-dropping high mountain passage sitting at a hefty 2,650m (8,694ft) above sea level. It's seriously one of France's highest roads, no exaggeration. This beast straddles the border between Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes departments, nestled in the Parpaillon massif of the Cottian Alps. The tunnel connects the Ubaye Valley to Embrun and has some serious historical cred—it's a classic Alpine pass that even featured in Tour de France races back in the day. The French Army started carving out this tunnel in 1891 to move troops around the Italian border. They didn't finish the tunnel itself until 1901, though construction continued until 1911. Pretty impressive feat for the time! Eventually though, it got replaced by the lower, winter-friendly Col de Vars, and this old military route quietly faded into obscurity. The 520-meter (1,710 ft) tunnel itself is arched and absolutely stunning—but also completely impassable from October to May. Step inside and you'll find ice, water, darkness, and genuinely creepy vibes. Honestly, it's better admired from outside. The D29/D39T route stretches 39.6km (24.60 miles) from La Condamine-Châtelard to Embrun. Fair warning: this is rough terrain. Unpaved, narrow, steep (up to 13% gradient), with drop-offs that'll make your palms sweat. The top 10km on both sides is basically a rocky obstacle course, and the higher sections turn into a never-ending hairpin maze carved by torrential rains and snowmelt. You'll definitely need 4x4 to even attempt this. The views? Absolutely breathtaking. The isolation? Completely desolate and humbling. But heads up—a recent landslide from a severe thunderstorm has closed the tunnel indefinitely.
extremeWhere is Soria Waterfall?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! There's this stunning waterfall called Cascada de Soria tucked away on Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Spain. Locals even call it "Cascada Bonita" (Beautiful Waterfall) — and while it can sometimes be more of a trickle than a torrent, trust me, it’s worth the trek. Hit it after some heavy rain, and you might just witness one of the island's most impressive cascades! Now, getting there is an adventure in itself. The GC-505, a paved road stretching 22.5 km (13.98 miles) from Santa Águeda, is your path. You'll wind your way through the Reserva Natural Integral de Inagua, but be warned: this isn't a Sunday drive. Picture this: hairpin turns galore, sections so narrow that passing another car feels like threading a needle, and the constant threat of rockslides. Seriously, this road demands respect. It's not for the faint of heart, so if you're not a confident driver, maybe skip this one. And if you're thinking of continuing past the waterfall towards Carretera de las Presas (GC-605) for another 6.9 km (4.28 miles) – think again! This part is mostly unpaved, super curvy, and extremely narrow, and ultimately closed to private vehicles. Stick to the waterfall and call it a day.
extremeOkha-Nogliki Road
🌍 Russia
Cruising the far north of Sakhalin Island in Russia? Then you HAVE to check out the road connecting Okha and Nogliki! Officially known as 64H-1, this 226 km stretch is an adventure from start to finish. You'll find mostly asphalt, but keep an eye out for gravel sections that can get seriously muddy and slick after a downpour. Trust me, this track turns into a challenge when wet, and sometimes it's just impassable, even with a 4x4! This route links Okha, the hub of the Okhinsky District, with Nogliki, the heart of the Nogliksky District. A word of caution: skip this road in bad weather. With a harsh subarctic climate, avalanches, heavy snow, landslides, and icy patches are real threats. It's super remote, so be prepared for a wild ride! The landscape is epic, the winters are long and cold, and the summers are short and cool.