Driving the scenic Arizona State Route 260
Usa, north-america
350 km
2,345 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, buckle up for Arizona State Route 260! This beauty winds through north-central Arizona, a totally paved path stretching 217 miles from Cottonwood to Eagar. You'll cruise through Yavapai, Coconino, Gila, Navajo, and Apache counties, so get ready for some diverse scenery!
This high mountain road peaks at 7,693 feet within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Usually, it's open year-round, but be aware that winter weather can sometimes shut things down temporarily. Speaking of winter, driving can get tricky, so keep an eye on the forecast.
Word to the wise: This road can be a bit dicey, so stay alert! It's a two-lane road with some narrow sections, and you might encounter wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled. Holiday weekends can also get crowded with folks escaping Phoenix. Daylight drives are definitely the way to go—night driving isn't recommended.
Where is it?
Driving the scenic Arizona State Route 260 is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 39.5014, -99.6056
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 350 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,345 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 39.5014, -99.6056
Related Roads in north-america
moderateWhere is Corkscrew Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're in southwestern Colorado, deep in the Uncompahgre National Forest, ready for an off-road adventure. You're about to tackle Corkscrew Pass! This baby clocks in at about 5 miles (8km) long, and it's not for the faint of heart. We're talking a climb up to a whopping 12,244 feet (3,732m) above sea level! You'll need a short-wheelbase 4x4 with high clearance to make it. This ain’t a Sunday drive in your sedan! This used to be a rough trail built back in the early 1880s to connect Silverton to the mines on Red Mountain. The road, known as Corkscrew Gulch Trail, is mostly unpaved and includes County Road 20A and County Road 11. The road is wide and graded most of the way but it gets steep and rough with some super-tight switchbacks—especially near the top! Be extra cautious because one wrong move could send you tumbling down a cliff. It's usually dry and easy, but after it rains, the clay soil turns super slick, making things much trickier. Keep an eye out for logging trucks at the lower part of the trail. The pass is usually snowed in from November to June. But trust me, the views are WORTH IT! You'll get an incredible bird's-eye view of Como Lake. This route is incredibly scenic, with a fantastic perspective of nature's flora and fauna. In the fall, the aspen trees in the Ironton valley turn the landscape into a golden paradise. Be prepared for company, it’s a popular trail. Bring your camera, because you'll want to capture every moment of this epic journey!
hardGolden Bear Peak
🇺🇸 Usa
Alright, thrill-seekers, listen up! Golden Bear Peak in Colorado’s Clear Creek County is calling your name! This ain't your grandma's Sunday drive. We're talking a rocky, bumpy, gravel road snaking its way up to a whopping 12,221 feet! Located deep in the Rockies, this high-altitude adventure is strictly for experienced off-roaders. Seriously, if you're not comfy on steep, unpaved mountain trails, this one's best left to the pros. You'll need a 4x4 with high clearance, and a healthy dose of courage – heights are definitely a thing here! The views? Absolutely epic. But be warned: this road is usually snowed in from September to July. And if it's wet? Expect a muddy, slippery challenge. Think of it as South Eisenhower Tunnel's wilder cousin. Golden Bear Peak is unforgettable!
hardWhere is Cabresto Lake?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so Cabresto Lake is tucked way up in the Carson National Forest of northern New Mexico – think seriously high country at 9,255 feet! Getting there is… an adventure. Forest Road 134A, or Cabresto Lake Road, is a twisty, turny beast. We're talking a super rocky, narrow track with about 15 hairpin turns and some serious drop-offs that'll make your palms sweat. Definitely not a winter drive! While you *might* get a regular car up there if it's dry, a 4x4 with good clearance is the way to go. Seriously, leave the RV at home; the road has sections that are basically one-way with cliffs on either side. It's about 2.1 miles from the main forest road and it climbs like crazy – over 800 feet of elevation gain! Some sections hit a 14% grade so hold on tight. But is it worth it? Totally! The road ends right at Cabresto Lake Campground, a small spot with just a few campsites surrounded by insane mountain views. Plus, it's one of the only places in New Mexico where you can catch brook trout. So, if you're up for a challenging drive and some incredible scenery, Cabresto Lake is calling your name.
hardOh-My-God Road is a thrilling adventure in Colorado
🇺🇸 Usa
# Oh-My-God Road Ready for a heart-pounding drive through Colorado's wild side? Oh-My-God Road is calling your name. This thrilling route runs along the border between Clear Creek and Gilpin counties, stretching 12.23 km (7.6 miles) from Idaho Springs (right off I-70) up to the historic gambling town of Central City near Highway 119. Fair warning: this is legitimately intense. The road barely squeezes in two cars side-by-side, and "side-by-side" is being generous. You're looking at a mostly unpaved track with some paved sections appearing sporadically at the top—the county's actually paving about a mile each year, so it's slowly improving. The route splits into two sections: one that's pretty manageable for most vehicles, another that'll definitely get your adrenaline pumping. Good news? You can tackle it in a standard 2-wheel-drive car when conditions are dry. Here's what makes it genuinely nail-biting: 12% grade sections, hairpin switchbacks, zero guardrails, washed-out shoulders, and jaw-dropping cliff drop-offs that'll make your stomach flip. The road's nickname comes from exactly this—it's so narrow and exposed that it earned an exclamation. One day it's smooth sailing; the next, washboard conditions might shake you right toward the edge. Perched at 2,855m (9,366ft) elevation, this high mountain road typically stays open year-round, though winter can sometimes force temporary closures. But here's the magic: you're driving through actual gold rush history. The route passes Russell Gulch, a genuine ghost town, plus roughly a dozen abandoned mines and incredible remnants of 1865 mining camps. These old supply roads once bustled with horse and wagon traffic before the railroad made them obsolete. Epic views of both Central City and Idaho Springs unfold as you climb, painting vivid pictures of those wild mining-era towns. It's history, thrills, and scenery all wrapped into one unforgettable adventure.