A steep paved toll-road to the top of Equinox Mountain in Vermont

A steep paved toll-road to the top of Equinox Mountain in Vermont

Usa, north-america

Length

8.36 km

Elevation

1,170 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, road trippers, buckle up for Mount Equinox Skyline Drive in Vermont! This paved toll road, clocking in at 5.2 miles, is your ticket to the summit of the highest peak in the Taconic Range. You'll find the entrance just off Route 7A, south of Manchester, and it's the longest privately-owned paved toll road in the USA!

Heads up: this beauty is usually closed from November to April. Plus, no buses, RVs, or mega-vans allowed, and leave your bikes and boats at home for this one. When it's open (Memorial Day to October 31st, weather permitting), you can cruise it from 9 AM to 5 PM. Pro tip: pack a jacket – it's usually breezy up there!

Located smack-dab in the Green Mountain National Forest, the views are insane all the way up. There are pull-offs to soak it all in as you climb. At the top, you're greeted with panoramic views of Vermont, the Adirondacks, New Hampshire, and even a glimpse of five states and Canada on a clear day. You'll also find some interesting relics like communication towers and an old Cold War radar station.

Cyclists, beware! This climb is legendary for its steepness. With an average gradient of 11.38% and some sections hitting almost 15%, it's a leg burner. Driving down? Take it slow, give your brakes some breathers, and downshift to let your engine help control your speed.

Where is it?

A steep paved toll-road to the top of Equinox Mountain in Vermont is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 42.1232, -98.2065

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
8.36 km
Max Elevation
1,170 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
42.1232, -98.2065

Related Roads in north-america

A challenging 4wd trail to Webster Pass in Coloradoextreme

A challenging 4wd trail to Webster Pass in Colorado

🇺🇸 Usa

Webster Pass: buckle up for an epic Colorado adventure! This high-altitude pass tops out at a whopping 12,103 feet! You'll find it nestled on the border between Summit and Park counties, right in the heart of the White River National Forest, smack-dab on the Continental Divide. The 9.14-mile road (aka Webster Pass Road #285) runs north-south, connecting Montezuma Road to County Road 60. Coming from I-70? Take Exit 205 for Silverthorne/Dillon, head east on HWY 6 towards Keystone, then turn right onto Montezuma Road (County Road 5) just past Keystone. Cruise for 7 miles to Montezuma, and Webster Pass Road will be on your left. Heads up, the summit also serves as the starting point for the infamous Red Cone trail! Originally a toll road built way back in the 1870s, Webster Pass usually opens around late May (depending on snowmelt) and closes around late November with the first snows. Prime time for a snow-free trip? Late August or early September. FYI, full-size vehicles need not apply. This totally unpaved road is a wild ride. Think super-narrow sections, river crossings, and super-steep switchbacks! A high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is a MUST. Even when conditions are good, towing a trailer is not recommended. Allow about 45 minutes each way for the trip. At the summit, you’ll hit the Red Cone and Handcart Gulch trails. That Red Cone descent is seriously steep – experts only! Otherwise, turn around and head back down Webster Pass. The views? Incredible! You'll wind through open alpine terrain with stunning Continental Divide scenery. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities to explore other 4WD roads nearby. It’s a thrilling ride with breathtaking scenery all along the Snake River. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!

Where is Mount Leecher?hard

Where is Mount Leecher?

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: Mount Leecher, a 5,022-foot giant in Washington's Okanogan County. It's nestled in the North Cascades, offering killer views of the Chelan Sawtooth Mountains and the surrounding wilderness. The main attraction up top is a fire lookout tower, originally from Chiliwist Butte but moved here in '54. They gave it a major facelift in 2009, so it's looking pretty spiffy. Sadly, you can't go inside. But hey, there's another lookout too! Keep an eye out for an old pine tree that used to be a tree-based lookout back in 1918. Super rare, and a cool piece of history! Now, about that road. It's almost 5 miles of pure, unpaved adventure starting from NF-4150. Expect sandy, rough terrain, so definitely bring your high-clearance vehicle or 4x4. The last mile is especially gnarly, so leave the low-riders at home.

A truly outstanding 4x4 adventure to Funnel Lakehard

A truly outstanding 4x4 adventure to Funnel Lake

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: you're in the Eastern Sierras, just southwest of Bishop, California, ready for an off-road adventure to Funnel Lake! This isn't your Sunday drive; it's the Coyote Flat 4x4 Trail, a totally unpaved route that climbs to a whopping 10,419 feet! Timing is everything. You'll likely need to wait until late June or even July for the snow to clear. This 17.3-mile journey isn't for the faint of heart, or oversized vehicles. Expect a pretty steep climb, gaining 6,056 feet with an average gradient of 6.63%. But trust me, the views are worth it! Imagine stunning vistas, frozen snow drifts, alpine scenery, and rolling meadows. Keep an eye out for abandoned mines along the way, remnants of another era. And be prepared, this trail transforms with the seasons, offering a new visual experience each time. Heads up: you'll absolutely need a 4x4 with good ground clearance, slightly deflated tires, and a spare – trust me on that one! Oh, and prepare for a couple of river crossings. This Inyo National Forest gem is unforgettable!

Forest Road 137moderate

Forest Road 137

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Forest Road 137 in Utah's Beaver County! This high-altitude beauty sits entirely above 7,200 feet, so prepare for some thin air! Snuggled within Fishlake National Forest, most of this scenic road is unpaved – just a little bit of pavement to tease you. It's a maintained one-lane road, thankfully with turnouts, that most 2WD vehicles can handle with care. I wouldn't recommend hauling a trailer, though. Keep an eye out for dispersed camping spots begging you to pitch a tent. Spanning almost 16 miles east to west, you'll climb to a breathtaking 10,082 feet! Heads up, it's a no-go in winter. Oh, and pro tip: this is bear country, so keep your eyes peeled! Seriously, though, this drive is a photographer's dream. Get ready for incredible vistas of LeBaron Lake, Upper Kents Lake, Kents Lake and Lower Kents Lake. Your Instagram feed will thank you!