Where is Rifugio Auronzo?
Italy, europe
30 km
2,340 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're in the Italian Dolomites, right between Trentino-South Tyrol and Veneto, heading up to Rifugio Auronzo, a mountain hut perched at a cool 2,340m (7,677ft).
This isn't just any drive. You'll be cruising on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo toll road – also known as the Three Peaks toll road or the Misurina-Auronzo toll road. Keep it slow and steady: the speed limit's just 30 km/h. You'll find the toll booth just north of Lago d'Antorno, a quick hop from Lake Misurina. After the gate, it's a sweet 5km push to the hut.
The full ride, starting from the SP49 north of Misurina, clocks in at about 7.1 km (4.41 miles), climbing 586 meters. Get ready for some leg burn – the average gradient is around 8.25%, but you'll hit some serious 18% sections! Even the Giro d'Italia riders have tackled this road.
Keep in mind: this road is usually snowed in from late October/early November until late May/early June, so plan accordingly.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! The top boasts a huge parking area and mind-blowing panoramic views. Think epic landscapes and historical World War I sites. Plus, it’s a hotspot for hikers and via ferrata junkies.
The pavement ends at Rifugio Auronzo, though. If you're feeling adventurous, a tough footpath descends into the valley, or you can take a gentler trail down a gravel road a bit further. But the unpaved road beyond the refuge? That's strictly for serious mountain bikes, not road bikes.
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 30 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,340 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderate16 Hairpin Turns to the Summit of Monte Nerone
🇮🇹 Italy
# Monte Nerone: A Thrilling Alpine Climb in Italy's Marche Region Ready for some serious mountain driving? Monte Nerone is calling—a stunning 1,512 m (4,960 ft) peak tucked in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino, right in the heart of Italy's Marche region. The route, officially called Strada Provinciale 15 (SP15), is a fully paved 9 km (5.59 mile) roller coaster starting from Pian di Trebbio. You'll climb 738 m in elevation with a respectable average gradient of 8.2%—nothing too scary, but definitely challenging enough to keep you engaged. The first kilometer hits you with the steepest section at around 12%, then the road settles into a more manageable 7-9% rhythm for the rest of the ascent. What makes this drive special? Sixteen perfectly engineered switchbacks wind their way around the dramatic limestone peak, creating a driving experience that genuinely rivals Mont Ventoux. As you climb higher, the scenery opens up beautifully, though be prepared—the final kilometers break the tree line and leave you completely exposed to the elements. Winds can be fierce up here, so grip that steering wheel tight. The summit features a large parking area and communication towers, making for a satisfying endpoint. The road is generally accessible year-round, though winter snow can cause temporary closures. It's a year-round adventure nestled high in the Umbrian Apennines, waiting for your next road trip.
hardDriving the military road to Frejus Pass in the Cottian Alps
🇫🇷 France
# Col du Fréjus: A High-Alpine Adventure Perched at 2,546 meters (8,353 feet) on the Franco-Italian border, Col du Fréjus is one of those legendary Alpine passes that feels like stepping back in time. Also known as Passo del Frejus, this mountain crossing connects Italy's Piedmont region with France's Savoie department, and trust me—it's absolutely worth the trek. At the summit, you'll find a charming little lake called Petit lac du Frejus, a stone cross, and stunning 360-degree views that make your heart skip a beat. What really makes this place special is its incredible history. The road was carved out in the 1890s under the direction of French Général-Baron Berge, and the landscape is dotted with remnants of its past—abandoned military barracks, old forts, and weathered fortifications scattered throughout. You'll even spot historical plaques marking skirmishes from June 1940 when Italian and French troops clashed here during World War II. Here's the catch: the French approach is seriously no-joke territory. Starting from Le Seuil, it's an 8.4-kilometer beast with a brutal 30% gradient on the steepest sections. Over that distance, you'll climb 873 meters with an average gradient of 10.39%—basically, it's relentless. The unpaved road sits high on the western edge of the Massif du Mont Cenis in the Cottian Alps, and while the surface isn't terrible, it can get slippery. Fair warning: the French side is closed to private vehicles and requires a 4x4 anyway. The Italian side? That's purely hiking territory with a steep trail only. Since 1980, when the 13-kilometer Fréjus Road Tunnel opened, most traffic bypassed the pass entirely—which honestly makes it feel even more like a hidden gem for adventurous explorers.
hardAlto de Gredos
🇪🇸 Spain
Alto de Gredos is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.768m (5,800ft) above the sea level, located in the south of the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. Located in the Gredos mountain range, the road to the summit, also known as Plataforma de Gredos, is asphalted. It’s called AV-931. At the summit is a big parking lot. It’s a toll road. The road can be closed anytime due the traffic. The road was built in 1945. The summit has been featured on Vuelta a España race. Expect a drive pretty steep. The ascent is 4.5km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 282 meters. The average gradient is 6.40%. The road to Miradoiro do Limo is littered with outstanding sea-landscapes 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.
hardTimmelsjoch is the highest pass of the Ötztal Alps
🇦🇹 Austria
# Timmelsjoch Pass: A Thrilling Alpine Adventure Ready for an epic high-altitude drive? Welcome to Timmelsjoch Pass (aka Passo del Rombo), sitting pretty at 2,479m (8,133ft) right on the Austria-Italy border. It's basically the less famous but equally stunning cousin of the legendary Stelvio Pass. This beauty connects Austria's Ötztal valley in Tyrol with Italy's Passeier Valley in South Tyrol, winding through the gorgeous Ötztal Alps. What's wild is that this road is one of the highest paved passes in the Alps, and it's been connecting these two regions since the late 1950s—talk about a major engineering feat! The project took just 17 months to complete (May 1955 to November 1959), and it opened to the public on July 7, 1959. Here's what you're getting into: the Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse is a paved toll road stretching 34.6km (21.49 miles) from Obergurgl in Austria to Moos in Passeier in Italy. Sounds straightforward? Not quite. This road is seriously intense with 60 turns and 30 hairpin bends, plus gradients reaching up to 12.7%. Whether you're cruising in a convertible, tearing it up on a motorcycle, or tackling it by bike, expect an unforgettable ride and absolutely jaw-dropping Alpine scenery. The pass typically opens daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm between early June and late October—this thing gets absolutely hammered by snow (up to 10 meters!) and freezing winds for the rest of the year. Plan on spending about 90-100 minutes driving, though you'll definitely want to stop for those incredible views of glacier landscapes, crystal-clear alpine streams, and dramatic rock faces. All in all, this is one scenic, adrenaline-pumping mountain road you won't forget anytime soon.