Conquer the Thrilling Road to Elwood Pass in Colorado's San Juan Mountains
Usa, north-america
28.8 km
3,559 m
extreme
Year-round
Elwood Pass, nestled high in Colorado's Rio Grande County, is a must-do for adventure seekers! This beast of a pass tops out at 11,676 feet within the Rio Grande National Forest.
Starting from Highway 160, East Fork Road (FS 667) throws you straight into 17.9 miles of unpaved glory. Get ready for some serious climbing – some sections max out at a wild 20% grade! You'll gain 4,376 feet in elevation, averaging about 4.63%.
The scenery in the San Juan Mountains is breathtaking, but don't get too distracted! This route is impassable in winter and can be treacherous any time of year, with narrow sections and steep drop-offs. A short trail near the summit even leads to Summit Pass at 11,801 feet!
The first 8 miles from the highway are fairly tame, a two-lane gravel road suitable for most vehicles, following the river through a rocky canyon. Near Silver Falls, watch out for a dip that might challenge the ground clearance of lower cars.
The real fun begins about 10 miles in, at the turn to Quartz Creek. This is where the loose rocks and water crossings demand a 4x4 with high clearance. Lock those axles, shift into low gear, and take it slow. The road is carved into near-vertical rock walls with massive drop-offs, so be careful, especially when it's wet. Spring runoff can make the river crossings deep and swift, and summer rains can turn the road muddy and slick.
Where is it?
Conquer the Thrilling Road to Elwood Pass in Colorado's San Juan Mountains is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 42.4995, -96.3729
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 28.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,559 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 42.4995, -96.3729
Related Roads in north-america
extremeThe narrow Quepos Bridge in Costa Rica
🌍 Costa Rica
Known as ‘The Bridge of Death’ and ‘Oh My God bridge’, this extremely narrow bridge is located on the road from Jaco to Quepos on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. Cars can travel only in one direction. It barely looks like it could hold a bicycle, let alone a 30 tons lorry. But trucks cross this deathtrap on a regular basis. The bridge built with wood planks looks like it could crumble at any moment, but apparently large trucks drive over it and people survive. The loose slats of the roadway clank loudly while the bridge shakes under the weight of all the vehicles. Nicknamed as Puente Paquita, this bridge was built by the "Bananera Company" in the years 1930-40 for the train that moved the bananas to the port of Quepos.Pic: Panzerknacker Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our interactive map to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
moderateIs the road to Mount Diablo paved?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're in the San Francisco East Bay, craving some killer views. Punch "Mount Diablo" into your GPS and get ready for Summit Road, a fully paved path leading to the top of this awesome peak. Starting in the sweet little town of Diablo, it's about 10.6 miles to the summit. Don't let the distance fool you – you'll climb over 3,350 feet on this winding adventure! The average grade is around 6%, but some spots crank up to over 10%, so hold on tight. Cyclists are all over this road, so keep your eyes peeled! Is it worth it? Totally! This road is generally open all year and the scenery is mind-blowing. Plus, the summit has a cool little shop, exhibits, and a parking lot. Check out the visitor's center, built in the 1930s, and keep an eye out for marine fossils. Trust me, the vistas from the top of Mt. Diablo are epic!
extremeWhere is Red Cone Pass in Colorado?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: Red Cone Pass, nestled way up high in Colorado's Park County. We're talking serious altitude here – 12,811 feet! You'll find it in the White River National Forest, not far from Keystone and a few hours' drive from Denver. This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. The road's about 7 miles long, connecting Webster Pass to County Road 60, and it's all unpaved – think steep climbs and loose, rocky terrain. But trust me, the views from the top are worth the bumpy ride! Now, a word of warning: Red Cone Pass is no joke. You'll definitely need a 4x4 with some good clearance to tackle this beast. The one-way trail winds along a steep slope with major drop-offs and crazy switchbacks leading down to the old ghost town of Webster. The descent is even more intense, with a narrow, rocky path and a thousand-foot drop waiting for any misstep. Seriously, proceed with caution! Keep in mind, Red Cone Pass is usually snowed in until late summer and closes up again with the first snows, so aim for late August or early September for the best chance of a clear run. If there's snow, don't even think about it! But if you're up for a challenge and crave some seriously stunning scenery, Red Cone Pass is an adventure you won't soon forget.
hardWhere is Vermont Street?
🇺🇸 Usa
Ever heard of Vermont Street in San Francisco's Potrero Hill? Forget Lombard Street, this unassuming little stretch between Division and Cesar Chavez is the real deal when it comes to crookedness! This one-way (downhill, thankfully!) concrete-paved road is a hidden gem of tight turns that most tourists – and even some locals – miss. Located near McKinley Square, the most famous part sits between 20th and 22nd Streets. Vermont Street boasts seven seriously sharp turns in just one block, making it technically "more crooked" than its flowery cousin. Don’t expect a leisurely cruise. Parking's at the top, and from there, you're in for a 14.3% grade drop, with five full turns and two half-turns. The paving can be a bit slick, and the turns are tight enough that you might be praying you don’t scrape your bumper, especially in a larger vehicle! You’ll get a yellow squiggly arrow sign before you start, but after that, you’re on your own to navigate uneven pavement and avoid those unforgiving concrete walls. Despite the challenge, Vermont Street is a popular spot. Pedestrians love strolling and soaking in the city views. Around a million cars make the trip down this iconic San Francisco landmark every year. Keep an eye out for movie magic, too! Vermont Street's appeared in films like "Magnum Force" (Dirty Harry!) and "Bullitt" (Steve McQueen!), so you might just feel like you're in an action flick as you tackle those turns.