Where is Llano de las Ánimas?
Spain, europe
7.6 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up! We're heading to the Llano de las Ánimas, a high mountain plateau perched way up in the western part of La Palma, part of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife province. Getting there is no joke – this 7.6 km (4.72 mile) climb is a relentless beast, gaining a whopping 1,252 meters in elevation! We're talking average gradients of 16.47%, but hold on tight, because some sections ramp up to a crazy 19-20%! This is one of the steepest roads in Europe, so be prepared for a wild ride on a very narrow and extremely steep path. The views from the top near Roque de los Muchachos are absolutely worth it, but keep your eyes on the road – this one demands your full attention!
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.6 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in europe
extremeAbano Pass is a Georgian treacherous road closed in winters
🇬🇪 Georgia
# Abano Pass: Georgia's Ultimate Mountain Challenge Ready for an adventure that'll make your heart race? Abano Pass (also called Torgva Pass) sits at a jaw-dropping 2,864m (9,396ft) in the heart of the Great Caucasus Mountains, right where Kakheti and Tusheti regions meet near the Russian border. This isn't your typical Sunday drive—we're talking about the highest drivable mountain pass in the entire Caucasus. The 67.2km (41.75 miles) unpaved route winds from Pshaveli up through some seriously dramatic terrain to Omalo, a small mountain village at 1,850m. It's the kind of place that feels genuinely untouched—partly because it's cut off from the rest of Georgia for most of the year. Summer is your window, roughly May through October, but even then, weather and landslides can close things down unexpectedly. Seriously, you might get stuck for a couple days waiting for roads to dry out. Here's the real talk: this road demands respect. Only high-clearance 4x4 vehicles should attempt it, and you're looking at some brutal 17% gradients with zero guardrails hugging cliffsides above gorges. The unpredictable surface, hairpin turns, and countless memorials along the way tell you this isn't called a "death road" for nothing—roughly 10-12 fatalities happen here annually. But here's why people do it anyway? The scenery is absolutely stunning. Wildflowers dot the landscape, waterfalls cascade alongside you, and you'll spot everything from snow walls (sometimes 4 meters deep in July!) to incredible mountain vistas. The Soviet-built road, completed in 1978, even features a tiny chapel at the summit with a quirky coffee shop called "Above the Clouds" that sometimes opens up there. Pro tip: Book accommodation ahead (many homestays only operate July onward), hire a sober driver, and pick a clear weather day. And if your driver suggests taking shots of cha-cha on the way up? Politely decline. You've got this—just give it the respect it deserves.
hardMutegg
🇮🇹 Italy
Okay, picture this: you're in Italy's South Tyrol region, ready for an adventure. You're headed up Mutegg, a seriously high peak at 2,624 meters (that's 8,608 feet!). This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. We're talking a rocky, gravel road that's usually a chairlift trail. Think steep, like up to 30% in some spots! You've got a tiny window to tackle this one—late summer (think end of August) is your best bet. Word to the wise: the wind is no joke up here. It's strong and pretty constant, so be prepared! At the very top, you'll find a communication tower. While the road itself might be a beast, the views are supposed to be amazing. Get ready for a climb you won't forget!
moderateA classic road trip to Col de Soudet in the Pyrenees
🇫🇷 France
Col de Soudet is a stunning high mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,540m (5,052ft) in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of France. It's tucked away in the southwestern corner of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, just north of Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin and practically kissing the Spanish border. The climb up D132 is a fully paved adventure that'll keep you on your toes—literally. This road winds its way through some seriously steep sections that'll test your driving skills, with gradients reaching a gnarly 14.5%. The scenery is absolutely worth the challenge, and the route has even earned its stripes as a Tour de France stage, which tells you something about the quality of this drive. Spanning 25 km (15 miles) from the charming village of Arette all the way north to the Spanish border, this is a road that delivers both adrenaline and unforgettable Pyrenean vistas. If you're hunting for a proper mountain pass experience in France, Col de Soudet should be high on your list.
hardCan I drive to Männlichen?
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Okay, picture this: you're in the Swiss Alps, in the stunning Jungfrau region, ready for an adventure! You're headed to Männlichen, a peak soaring to 2,343m (7,687ft) in the Canton of Berne. Now, here's the thing: you can't actually *drive* all the way to the very top in your own vehicle. The Männlichen Royal Walk, the road to the summit, is unpaved and closed to private cars. But don't let that stop you! Getting to the area is half the fun. The views of the Jungfrau massif and Bernese Alps on the way are seriously breathtaking. And trust me, Männlichen is worth it for those views alone. If you want to explore more of the immediate area in a vehicle, the road that technically leads to the summit is a short but mighty 750m stretch from Berghaus Männlichen. Just be warned, it's crazy steep, maxing out at a 16% gradient! You'll climb 81 meters in elevation, with an average gradient of 10.8%. It’s a dead end, so you have to come back down the same way. Get ready for some seriously unforgettable Alpine views!