Which Roads Have the Most Hairpin Turns in the World?
Many roads around the world are known for their hairpin turns, sharp curves that require drivers to almost double back on their path. These turns, also known as switchbacks, help vehicles navigate steep terrains safely by allowing gradual ascent or descent.
What Are Hairpin Turns?
A hairpin turn is a sharp curve in the road, resembling the angle of a bobby pin. These turns are designed to help vehicles manage steep inclines and descents by providing a way to navigate the terrain without overly steep grades.
Famous Hairpin Roads
Some of the most famous hairpin roads include:
- Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps: Known for its 21 distinctive hairpin turns.
- Lysevegen in Norway: Features 27 iconic bends.
- Trollstigen Road in Norway: Renowned for its 11 characteristic loops.
Lesser-Known Hairpin Roads
While roads like Alpe d'Huez, Lysevegen, and Trollstigen are well-known, many other roads around the world also feature numerous hairpin turns. These lesser-explored roads offer similar driving challenges and scenic views.
This article explores some of these iconic and lesser-known serpentine roads, highlighting the unique driving experiences they offer.
Which are the roads with the most hairpin turns in the world?
| Image | Road | Location / Country | Terrain & Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Paso de los Caracoles | Chile / Argentina border | Spectacular pass (Paso de los Libertadores) reaching 3,200 m elevation. One of the most scenic drives in the world, featuring endless unshielded switchbacks on the Chilean side. |
 | Passo dello Stelvio | South Tyrol / Sondrio, Italy | High mountain pass at 2,757 m elevation, one of the highest roads in Europe. Famed for its 48 numbered hairpin bends and steep inclines. |
 | Col du Chaussy | Savoie, France | High pass at 1,533 m elevation on D77B. Features 'Lacets de Montvernier', 17 tight hairpins stacked over just 3 km along cliff edges. One of the most scenic drives in the world. |
 | Jacob’s Ladder | Tasmania, Australia | Sharply winding unsealed gravel climb ascending up to Ben Lomond mountain plateau at 1,570 m elevation beneath towering dolerite cliffs. |
 | Cetinje-Kotor Road | Cetinje to Kotor, Montenegro | Narrow 38 km single-lane mountain road. Features a famous 8.3 km section with 16 steep hairpins overlooking Kotor Bay. |
 | Passo San Boldo | Veneto, Italy | Italian Alps pass at 706 m elevation. Famed for a 700 m stretch cut into rock faces incorporating 7 hairpin bends and single-lane tunnels. |
 | Rodovia SC-390 | Santa Catarina, Brazil | Dramatically winding route through Serra do Rio do Rastro climbing to 1,460 m elevation past waterfalls, canyons, and deep crags. |
 | Col de Braus | Alpes-Maritimes, France | Paved D2204 mountain pass at 1,002 m elevation leading toward Col de Turini, featuring stone-walled switchbacks stacked like fortifications. |
 | Sani Pass | South Africa / Lesotho border | Notoriously rough 4x4 mountain route topping out at 2,876 m elevation, built in the 1950s with steep switchbacks and extreme weather shifts. |
 | Forcella Lavardet | Veneto, Italy | Alpine pass at 1,542 m elevation (SS465) featuring 14 sharp unpaved hairpins stacked directly on top of each other. Closed to motor vehicles. |
 | Serra da Leba Pass | Huíla Province, Angola | Asphalted high pass at 1,845 m elevation near Lubango. Features a famous 1.7 km section climbing through 7 illuminate-at-night hairpin turns. |
 | Paso Portachuelo | Ancash, Peru (Huascarán National Park) | Extreme high-altitude gateway at 4,767 m elevation featuring an 8.5 km section with 28 tight unpaved switchbacks climbing 527 meters. |
 | Burr Trail | Utah, USA | 68-mile (109 km) dirt route traversing Grand Staircase-Escalante with sharp unpaved canyon switchbacks that become impassable when wet. |
 | Sangetsar Lake Road | Arunachal Pradesh, India | Remote high-altitude 4x4 gravel track at 3,708 m elevation starting from Zemithang, incorporating 52 unprotected hairpin turns. Requires special permit. |
 | Stalheimskleiva | Voss, Norway | Historic 1.7 km single-lane road built in 1842 with a 20% gradient and 13 tight hairpins running between two cascading waterfalls. |
 | Tsugaru Iwaki Skyline | Aomori Prefecture, Japan | Extreme serpentine toll road climbing Mt. Iwaki to 1,247 m elevation, featuring an incredible 66 continuous hairpin turns. Bicycles prohibited. |
 | Gata Loops | Ladakh, India | High-altitude Himalayan ascent consisting of 22 continuous hairpin loops over 10.3 km, taking drivers to the top of Nakeela La. |
 | Carretera a Collpani | Cusco / La Convención, Peru | Narrow gravel road packing 52 hairpin turns into just 10.4 km, climbing from 3,075 m to 3,894 m with gradients up to 15%. |
 | Babusar Pass | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan | High pass reaching 4,173 m elevation connecting Kaghan Valley to Karakoram Highway. Subject to seasonal snow blockades. |
 | Kallikratis-Kapsodasos Road | Crete, Greece | Narrow 11 km mountain route with 27 hairpin turns climbing 800 m above sea level, including a famous 2.1 km section averaging 8.95% grade. |
 | Moldo-Ashuu Pass | Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan | Gravel 4x4 mountain pass reaching 3,346 m elevation in Tian Shan mountains, running along Kurtka river canyon with steep serpentine curves. |
 | Curvas de Huanchaca | Cusco, Peru | A 9.8 km gravel-and-sand stretch of Route 3SF featuring 24 unpaved hairpins climbing 639 meters near Urubamba Valley. |
 | Lowari Pass | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | Traversed by N45 at 3,118 m elevation near Afghan border. Known as 'Hell's Road' due to high drop-offs, winter snow closures, and tight bends. |
 | N6 Road (Aqabat Thirah) | Abyan / Al Bayda, Yemen | Paved 52.1 km mountain route (R4234) topping out at 2,283 m elevation, incorporating 34 cliffside switchbacks. |
 | Three Level Zigzag Road | Sikkim, India | Himalayan spiral road along Old Silk Route near Zuluk, featuring more than 100 hairpins over 30 km. One of the most scenic drives in the world. |
 | Col de Tende | France / Italy border | High Alpine pass at 1,870 m elevation featuring over 48 hairpins over 7 km, transitioning from asphalt to rough gravel halfway up. |
 | 24-Zig Road | Guizhou Province, China | Historic WWII supply gravel road near Qinglong featuring 24 tight switchbacks built into a steep mountain slope. |
 | Hana Highway | Maui, Hawaii (USA) | Famous 52-mile coastal drive with 617 switchbacks and 56 single-lane bridges. One of the most scenic drives in the world. |
 | Aristi-Papingo Road | Epirus, Greece | Scenic asphalted drive through Pindos Mountains featuring 23 hairpin turns connecting Aristi and Papingo past Voidomatis River. |
 | Carretera 663 | Huánuco, Peru | Narrow 12.3 km gravel ledge road along Marañón River with unprotected 300 m sheer drop-offs and tight bends. |
 | Passo dello Spluga | Switzerland / Italy border | Historic Alpine pass (SS36) at 2,115 m elevation connecting Splügen to Chiavenna with tightly engineered switchbacks. |
 | Lysevegen | Rogaland, Norway | A 29 km mountain road (FV500) from Lysebotn featuring 27 hairpin turns and a tunnel climb reaching 932 m elevation. |
 | Passo del San Gottardo | Ticino / Uri, Switzerland | Historic pass opened in 1830 at 2,091 m elevation. Features cobble-paved Tremola switchbacks and the Gotthard Museum at the summit. |
 | Old Kunyi Road | Yunnan Province, China | Dense gravel climb squeezing 26 hairpin turns into just 2.1 km, with a sharp switchback every few meters over a 139 m elevation gain. |
 | D80 Road | Savoie, France | Steep 10.3 km mountain ascent from Villargondran to Albiez-le-Jeune, incorporating 38 narrow hairpins with ramps exceeding 10%. |