Baxter Pass: Ultimate 4wd Destination in Colorado
Usa, north-america
81 km
2,573 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Baxter Pass in Colorado! This beast of a mountain pass sits at a lofty 8,441 feet above sea level in Garfield County. You'll find it nestled on the route from Dragon, Utah, to Mack, Colorado.
Back in the day, a quirky railroad (the Uintah Railway) chugged up and over this pass, hauling gilsonite. Talk about niche! But with better roads and trucks, it sadly became a thing of the past in 1938.
Now, about the road itself: County Highway 201 (aka Baxter Pass Road) is *all* unpaved. Think hard-packed dirt, sand, the occasional bump, and rocks aplenty. Newbies, beware! Expect some seriously narrow sections and those thrilling (or terrifying!) drop-offs. There's even a short shelf road section on the south side to keep you on your toes. This is a wild, remote, and stunning corner of Colorado.
This epic dirt road stretches for about 50 miles from Mack, Colorado, all the way to the Utah border, just south of Dragon.
You can usually tackle this winding, steep trail from June to October, weather permitting. Keep an eye out for lingering snowdrifts!
Give yourself around 3 hours to conquer this remote road. Bonus: there are a few ghost towns to explore along the way. At the summit, you'll find a communication antenna.
Where is it?
Baxter Pass: Ultimate 4wd Destination in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 44.5016, -98.9505
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 81 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,573 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 44.5016, -98.9505
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