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World’s Most Spectacular Roads By: Hal Amen * * [image: Milford Road] 1. Milford Road, New Zealand Not to be confused with the famous Milford Track<http://matadortrips.com/the-most-spectacular-treks-worldwide>trekking route, the Milford Road State Highway 94 passes through the Southern Alps of New Zealand <http://matadornetwork.com/focus/new-zealand/>’s South Island. Photo: macronix <http://www.flickr.com/photos/macronix/> [image: Stelvio Pass] 2. Stelvio Pass, Italy 48 hairpin turns up to a 2757m (9045ft) pass in the Italian<http://matadornetwork.com/focus/italy/>Alps, and Top Gear <http://www.topgear.com/uk/tv-show>’s pick for “greatest driving road in the world.” Photo: Damian Morys Foto <http://www.flickr.com/photos/damianmorysfotos/> [image: Great Ocean Road rock formation] 3. Great Ocean Road, Australia This coastal road in Victoria runs for 241km, between Torquay and Warrnambool. The car-less might consider the Great Ocean Walk<http://matadortrips.com/the-great-ocean-walk-victorias-coastal-hike>as an alternative. Photo: Stas Kulesh <http://www.flickr.com/photos/piterpan/> [image: Chalus Road, Iran] 4. Chalus Road, Iran Tehran is connected to the northern city of Chalus via this road through the Alborz Mountains. Check this site for more images<http://www.360cities.net/image/iran-tehran-chalus-road-shomale-kandevan-01#0.00,0.00,70.0> . Photo: ninara <http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninara/> [image: Cabot Trail winding road] 5. Cabot Trail, Canada Wrapping around northern Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, the Cabot Trail<http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/gettinghereandaround/gettingaround/scenic_travelways/cabot_trail/default.aspx>is mountainous and windy with near-constant ocean views. I recommend biking it <http://matadornetwork.com/focus/road-bike-cycling/>. Photo: kennymatic <http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwl/> [image: Interstate 70, Glenwood Springs] 6. I-70 at Glenwood Canyon, Colorado The Colorado River, of Grand Canyon<http://matadortrips.com/nows-the-time-to-hike-the-grand-canyon>fame, carved this canyon billions of years ago. The U.S. government built the 12-mile, $490 million interstate route through it, which was only completed in 1992. Photo: Payton Chung <http://www.flickr.com/photos/paytonc/> [image: Millau Bridge] 7. Millau Bridge, France Southern France’s Millau Bridge is the tallest in the world — taller, actually, than the Eiffel Tower. Photo: tibchris <http://www.flickr.com/photos/arcticpuppy/> [image: Karakoram Highway] 8. Karakoram Highway, Pakistan The “highest paved international road in the world” connects Pakistan with Xinjiang, China. It is currently closed at the Hunza Valley due to a massive landslide<http://matadortrips.com/update-pakistan%E2%80%99s-karakoram-highway-blocked-by-major-landslide> . Photo: Umair Mohsin <http://www.flickr.com/photos/umairmohsin/> [image: Snowdonia roads] 9. Mountain road, Snowdonia, Wales Mountainous northern Wales is traversed by many of these ancient, narrow, stone-walled roads. I’ve experienced the challenge of navigating them at night. With oncoming traffic. Car renters beware. Photo: Richard0 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/nov03/> [image: Ice road, Northwest Territories] 10. Ice Highway, Canada Winter means greater accessibility in northern Canada. This frozen road runs up the Northwest Territories. Photo: madmack66 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/madmack/> [image: Chapman's Peak road] 11. Chapman’s Peak Drive, South Africa Another great coastal road, this one just 15 miles south of Cape Town. Photo: Raveesh Vyas <http://www.flickr.com/photos/chromatic_aberration/> [image: Peru mountain pass] 12. Mountain road, central Peru Most mountain pass roads in Peru qualify as “spectacular.” This one runs north from the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo and is part of the car route to Machu Picchu <http://matadortrips.com/machu-picchu-on-the-cheap>. Photo: ThiagoJ <http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacomasso/> [image: Liwa desert highway] 13. Liwa, UAE Roads through the desert oasis of Liwa, Abu Dhabi<http://matadorpulse.com/abu-dhabis-green-city-cynical-ploy-or-face-of-the-future/>, stretch long. Photo: Luca Assen <http://www.flickr.com/photos/20118...@n00/> [image: Glacier National Park road] 14. Going-to-the- Sun Road, Montana The only route through Glacier National Park<http://matadortrips.com/photo-essay-the-stunning-colors-of-glacier-national-park>was featured in the opening scenes of “The Shining.” Photo: Colin Gregory Palmer <http://colingregorypalmer.net/> [image: Mývatn, Iceland] 15. Mývatn, Iceland Mývatn is a volcanically active region in northern Iceland<http://matadortrips.com/a-budget-travel-guide-to-iceland>. This road will take you there. Photo: Francesco_G <http://www.flickr.com/photos/francescog/> [image: Florida Keys highway] 16. Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys U.S. Highway 1 runs for miles over the water, connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland. It includes this long span of bridge. Photo: milan.boers <http://www.flickr.com/photos/milanboers/> [image: Gotthard Pass, Alps] 17. Gotthard Pass, Switzerland Traveling north from Italy into Switzerland, you’ll come to Gotthard Pass, which you can cross on either the new, straightforward road, or the old roller coaster above. My money’s on the latter. Photo: Mikael Miettinen <http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikaelmiettinen/> [image: High Atlas pass] 18. Tichka Pass, Morocco I recently drove over the 2260m Tichka Pass on my way to Zagora to ride a camel. The pass was cooler. No offense, camel. Photo: cliffwilliams <http://www.flickr.com/photos/indiepants/> [image: Big Sur highway bridge] 19. Pacific Coast Highway, California This is the only road getting reprised from the original post. It seems to deserve it. Photo: tibchris <http://www.flickr.com/photos/arcticpuppy/> [image: Irish rainbow] 20. Dingle Peninsula, Ireland The roads of western Ireland are narrow, flanked by green, and sometimes charmed. Photo: ktylerconk <http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktylerconk/>
