Road collection
Forest roads are cool in summer, quiet early in the morning and often beautifully surfaced. Watch for damp patches under the trees.
30 roads, ranked
1. Austria, Salzburg and Carinthia, Austria
Austria's grandest high alpine road climbs to Franz Josefs Hohe beneath the country's tallest peak.
Bruck an der Grossglocknerstrasse to Heiligenblut, 48 km (29.8 miles). Driving 9.7/10, scenery 9.9/10.
2. United States, Montana and Wyoming
Swaths of switchbacks climb to 3337 metres past alpine lakes and snowfields.
Red Lodge to Cooke City, 109 km (67.7 miles). Driving 9.4/10, scenery 9.9/10.
3. France, Savoie and Hautes-Alpes, France
The spine of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a relentless climb to one of driving's holiest summits.
Valloire to Col du Lautaret, 18.1 km (11.2 miles). Driving 9.5/10, scenery 9.7/10.
4. Romania, Parang Mountains
Romania's highest road runs along bare alpine ridgelines with almost no barriers.
Novaci to Sebes, 148 km (92 miles). Driving 9.6/10, scenery 9.7/10.
5. France, Hautes-Alpes, France
Hairpins through larch forest give way to the lunar Casse Deserte, a surreal high altitude finale.
Briancon to Guillestre, 33 km (20.5 miles). Driving 9.4/10, scenery 9.6/10.
6. Spain, Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca's spine road strings together sea cliffs, terraces and mountain villages.
Andratx to Pollenca, 75 km (46.6 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.6/10.
7. Canada, Alberta
Glacier after glacier lines a road through the spine of the Canadian Rockies.
Lake Louise to Jasper, 232 km (144.2 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.9/10.
8. Switzerland, Valais and Uri, Switzerland
Bond film hairpins skirt the Rhone Glacier on this high, exposed Alpine crossing.
Gletsch to Realp, 16 km (9.9 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 9.5/10.
9. Spain, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Volcanic moonscape unfolds as the road spirals up past pine forest into Teide's caldera.
La Orotava to Vilaflor, 45 km (28 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.8/10.
10. Germany, Bavarian Alps, Germany
The western German Alpine Road weaves past castles beneath jagged limestone peaks.
Lindau to Fussen, 90 km (55.9 miles). Driving 9.1/10, scenery 9.6/10.
11. Germany, Bavarian Alps, Germany
Sweeping alpine curves link lake resorts on the way to the Austrian border.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Berchtesgaden, 150 km (93.2 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.7/10.
12. Chile, Aysen
Patagonia's legendary road through rainforest, fjords and hanging glaciers.
Puerto Montt to Coyhaique, 600 km (372.8 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.8/10.
13. Germany, Eifel, Germany
The Green Hell loops through Eifel forest with 73 legendary corners open to the public.
Nurburg to Nurburg, 21 km (13 miles). Driving 10/10, scenery 8.5/10.
14. Australia, Victoria
Australia's highest sealed road, a long alpine climb over Mount Hotham.
Bright to Omeo, 110 km (68.4 miles). Driving 9.2/10, scenery 9.3/10.
15. New Zealand, West Coast
Rainforest and waterfall canyon roads link the lakes to the wild West Coast.
Wanaka to Haast, 145 km (90.1 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
16. New Zealand, Canterbury
Braided rivers, beech forest and the dramatic Otira viaduct across an alpine fault.
Springfield to Arthur's Pass, 90 km (55.9 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.5/10.
17. Albania, Albanian Riviera
From pine forest at 1000 metres down a wall of hairpins to the Ionian Sea.
Orikum to Dhermi, 30 km (18.6 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.6/10.
18. Spain, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Ridge top curves reveal the volcanic finger of Roque Nublo above pine covered barrancos.
Tejeda to San Bartolome de Tirajana, 22 km (13.7 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.5/10.
19. Germany, Black Forest, Germany
Germany's original scenic highway rolls along a forested ridge with panoramic Alpine views.
Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt, 60 km (37.3 miles). Driving 9/10, scenery 9.3/10.
20. Turkey, Antalya
A Mediterranean corniche of pine forest, ruins and turquoise bays all the way.
Kas to Antalya, 190 km (118.1 miles). Driving 8.8/10, scenery 9.5/10.
21. United States, Arizona
Red rock Sedona at one end, pine forest at the other, with a hairpin climb between.
Sedona to Flagstaff, 45 km (28 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 9.5/10.
22. France, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Legendary Monte Carlo Rally stage stitching together forested hairpins above the Roya valley.
Sospel to La Bollene-Vesubie, 17 km (10.6 miles). Driving 9.3/10, scenery 8.8/10.
23. Spain, Castilla y Leon, Spain
A ribbon of tarmac threading beech forests beneath the jagged western Picos de Europa.
Posada de Valdeon to Boca de Huergano, 30 km (18.6 miles). Driving 8.7/10, scenery 9.5/10.
24. Portugal, Madeira, Portugal
Laurel forest tunnels and sheer drops make this ridge road one of Madeira's most thrilling.
Ribeiro Frio to Portela, 15 km (9.3 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9.6/10.
25. United States, Hawaii
620 curves and 59 bridges through rainforest and waterfalls on Maui's north shore.
Paia to Hana, 84 km (52.2 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9.7/10.
26. Argentina, Salta
Cloud forest to cactus desert over a 3348 metre pass of perfect switchbacks.
Salta to Cachi, 157 km (97.6 miles). Driving 8.7/10, scenery 9.6/10.
27. Spain, Aragon Pyrenees, Spain
A long alpine valley run past reservoirs and ski towns to the French border ridge.
Sabinanigo to Portalet Pass, 45 km (28 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9.3/10.
28. Spain, La Palma, Canary Islands
A ridge road along the volcanic spine of La Palma with views to both Atlantic coasts.
El Paso to Fuencaliente, 28 km (17.4 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9.3/10.
29. Peru, Cusco
From 4300 metre glaciers down into cloud forest in a single hour of driving.
Ollantaytambo to Santa Maria, 75 km (46.6 miles). Driving 8.6/10, scenery 9.4/10.
30. United Kingdom, Peak District, England
Sweeping moorland A road that rolls and dips across the wild Pennine spine.
Glossop to Ladybower Reservoir, 16 km (9.9 miles). Driving 8.9/10, scenery 8.8/10.
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