Stara Planina · Bulgaria
Beklemeto Pass
II-35Troyan to Karnare
Distance23.1 mi37 km
Drive time48 minon the road
DifficultyDemandingtightness 6 of 10
Road 35 over the Beklemeto saddle is Bulgaria’s most dramatic pass drive: over 30 hairpins to a 1,525 m summit on the ancient Roman Via Traiana.
The road departs Troyan and traces the Osam valley before cutting up through dense forest in a long series of tight hairpins, with gradients around 11%. The Beklemeto saddle carries a concrete Arch of Freedom monument and a ski resort with broad mountain views; the south flank descends to Karnare and the main corridor.
Where it runs
TroyanStart · Stara Planina
KarnareEnd · Stara Planina
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Character
Corners98bends
Tightness6of 10
Max gradient17%≈ 1-in-6
Hairpins7tight bends
Climb1,259 mtotal ascent
Summit1,680 mhighest point of the line · 5,512 ft
Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%391 – 1,680 mHazards
- 30+ hairpin bends
- 11% maximum gradient
- unguarded steep edges on sections
- winter ice and closures October to April
See the typical season and live conditions for the high passes ›
Sources: Road geometry © OpenStreetMap contributors
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Beklemeto Pass.
Beklemeto Pass
Directions