Collada de Montaner: Driving the 9.6% 4x4 border track to Andorra
Collada de Montaner is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 2,079 meters (6,820 ft) above sea level in the Pyrenees, situated on the border between Spain and Andorra. Traversed by an unpaved mountain track, the route connects the Spanish village of Os de Civís (Lleida) with the Anyós and Sispony area in the parish of La Massana, Andorra.
| Road facts: Collada de Montaner | |
|---|---|
| Location | Os de Civís (Spain) to La Massana (Andorra) |
| Elevation | 2,079 m (6,820 ft) |
| Length | 5.9 km (3.6 miles) from Os de Civís |
| Elevation Gain | 571 m (1,873 ft) |
| Average Gradient | 9.67% |
| Hairpin Turns | 10 switchbacks |
| Surface | Unpaved (Earth, loose shale, and gravel) |
| Vehicle Required | High-clearance 4x4 |
Where is the road over Collada de Montaner located?
The climb begins in Os de Civís, a Spanish enclave accessible by road only through Andorra. The 5.9-kilometer track gains 571 vertical meters along the Setúria valley side, crossing the border at the 2,079-meter crest toward La Massana.
What are the driving conditions on the Collada de Montaner track?
Starting from Os de Civís, the 5.9-kilometer unpaved track maintains a heavy 9.67% average gradient over natural earth, loose shale, and gravel. The route includes 10 tight hairpins with steep incline ramps where low-range four-wheel drive and high ground clearance are required to maintain tire traction on loose or wet soil.
What hazards exist on the Collada de Montaner border track?
The single-lane mountain path lacks guardrails along steep, exposed valley drops. Rainstorms quickly soften the earth surface into thick mud, reducing tire grip on steep inclines. On the descent into the Setúria valley, low gears must be engaged to engine brake and prevent brake pads from overheating.
Is the road over Collada de Montaner open in winter?
No. At an elevation of 2,079 meters, heavy snow accumulation and ice bury the track from November through late May. Snowplows do not clear this unpaved border pass, leaving it impassable to 4x4 vehicles outside the summer months.
Pic: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-mountain-bike/andorra-la-vella-pal-andorra-la-vella-per-collada-de-montaner-394778/photo-103943