Ford Ridge

Ford Ridge

Usa, north-america

Length

N/A

Elevation

2,858 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up buttercups, because Ford Ridge Road in Utah's Carbon County is a WILD ride! We're talking about a climb up to 9,376 feet (2,858 meters) above sea level. The road itself? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Ford Ridge Road is rough, rocky, and seriously steep – think "hold on to your hat" steep. Definitely a summer-only adventure; winter makes it totally impassable. If unpaved mountain roads aren't your thing, maybe skip this one. You'll 100% need a 4x4 to even attempt it, and if you're afraid of heights… well, let's just say you'll be getting a serious dose of exposure. But hey, if you’re brave enough to make the trek, you'll be rewarded with views that are absolutely breathtaking.

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Max Elevation
2,858 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in north-america

How long is the Smith Dorrien Trail?hard

How long is the Smith Dorrien Trail?

🇨🇦 Canada

Craving an off-the-beaten-path adventure? Head to Kananaskis in Alberta and discover the Smith Dorrien Trail (Highway 742)! This beauty stretches for about 70 km from south of Canmore to the Kananaskis Trail (Highway 40), carving its way through the stunning Smith-Dorrien Valley. Fair warning: ditch the sports car. It’s a gravel road, so expect some dust and washboards. Most cars can handle it, though. This high-altitude route peaks at around 1,909 meters, so even in summer, be ready for some snow! Plan on about 1.5 to 2 hours of driving time if you don’t stop (but you *will* want to stop!). The scenery is incredible. Speaking of stopping, keep your eyes peeled for moose! The biggest thing to watch out for is dust, so keep a good distance between vehicles. The road gets pretty rough in spots, and near Canmore, there’s a narrow, steep, winding section. And remember, there's no cell service out there, so be prepared!

An old mining road to Mount Patterson in Californiamoderate

An old mining road to Mount Patterson in California

🇺🇸 Usa

Mount Patterson is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,560m (11,679ft) above sea level, located in Mono County, in the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California. The peak is located in the east-central portion of California, near the Nevada border, within the Toiyabe National Forest. The area is dotted with many mines that were active in the 1880s. The 360-degree views from the top are incredible. Set high in the Sweetwater Mountains, the scenic road to the summit, with fantastic views, is totally unpaved. It’s pretty rough and requires using a 4WD vehicle. The road to the summit is an old mining road to Montague Mine Cabin. The peak is accessible from July to October due to snow. The opening and closing dates all depend on snowmelt and snowfall each year. High winds blow here all year long. The higher you get, the more exposed you are to the wind. The road to the summit is very steep, hitting an 18% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at US395, the road is 25.7 km (15.96 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1,568 meters. The average gradient is 6.10%.Pic: 4x4Husky 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.

Grouse Creek Gaphard

Grouse Creek Gap

🇺🇸 Usa

Alright, adventurers, let's talk Grouse Creek Gap! Picture this: Southern Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains, and you're heading up, up, up to 6,640 feet above sea level. The route? It's NF-20, a gravel road that winds its way to the top. Now, don't expect a smooth ride here. This is an adventure, not a Sunday drive! But hey, as long as you've got a vehicle with decent clearance and take it slow, you should be golden – especially when the road is dry. Watch out for washboarding, ruts, and dips – it's all part of the fun! You'll be treated to some unreal scenery along the way. Get ready for some serious mountain views!

Trail Ridge Roadmoderate

Trail Ridge Road

🇺🇸 United States

# Trail Ridge Road: America's Wildest Mountain Drive Ready to touch the sky? Trail Ridge Road is the crown jewel of high-altitude driving in the US, peaking out at a seriously impressive 3,713 meters as it carves through Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The 77-kilometer journey connecting Estes Park and Grand Lake is an absolute bucket-list drive that'll make your jaw drop and your ears pop. What really sets this road apart is spending nearly 18 kilometers cruising *above* the treeline through genuine alpine tundra. Seriously—it looks like you've been transported straight to the Arctic, minus the igloos. The landscape here is otherworldly: barren, windswept, and hauntingly beautiful all at once. You're basically retracing routes the Ute and Arapaho peoples used for centuries to navigate these mountains. Modern adventurers get treated to some seriously Instagram-worthy views—jagged snow-covered peaks, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and sprawling meadows where elk and bighorn sheep casually hang out like they own the place (they kind of do). Stop by the Alpine Visitor Center near the summit to get nerdy about the ecosystem. The tundra here is genuinely fragile—plants grow at a snail's pace, and the relentless wind contorts trees into those gnarly, artistic shapes called krummholz. It's nature's own sculpture garden, and it's absolutely wild.