Heart Lake
Usa, north-america
N/A
3,653 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, listen up! You absolutely HAVE to check out Heart Lake in Hinsdale County, Colorado. We're talking seriously high altitude here – 11,984 feet! This isn't your average Sunday drive.
The road to the lake is a gravel track, and forget about it in the winter. Honestly, if unpaved mountain roads make you nervous, or you have a thing about heights, maybe skip this one. You'll definitely need a 4x4 to tackle this bad boy. And pro tip: during dry spells, it gets super dusty, so be prepared!
The journey takes you up NF-245 towards the abandoned Sullivan Mountain lookout, and the views are absolutely insane. Seriously, the scenery alone is worth the white-knuckle drive!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 3,653 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
moderateBull Park Trail: rough and bumpy
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so you're up for a proper off-road adventure? Check out Bull Park Trail (Forest Service Road 376A) in Teller County, Colorado. This isn't your Sunday drive kind of road! Clocking in at just under 3 miles, this unpaved track is seriously bumpy and eroded. Think rocks, ruts, and a real test for your vehicle. Trust me, you'll need a 4x4, and a lifted one at that, to crawl over some of the obstacles. The trail winds its way high into the mountains above Colorado Springs, hitting a peak of around 11,400 feet. The views are incredible! Just a heads up: this road is closed during the winter months, usually from December to the end of May. So plan your trip for the warmer months to experience this wild ride.
hardWhere is Forest Road 132?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up for Forest Road 132 in south-central Utah's Dixie National Forest! This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. We're talking 20.3 miles of unpaved adventure that twists and turns through some serious mountain scenery. You'll need a high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicle for this one, as the road can get pretty rough and narrow – treacherous in spots. And with a maximum gradient of 13%, you'll definitely be putting that engine to the test! Keep in mind, this road is no joke: it climbs to some serious elevation, so plan accordingly. Sadly, it's usually impassable from late October through June/early July, depending on the snow, so summer/early fall is the window for this epic trek. But trust me, the views are worth the wait! Once you hit the paved Johns Valley Road, you'll be ready to plan your next adventure.
moderateLytton-Lillooet Highway is a scenic drive along the Fraser river
🇨🇦 Canada
Get ready for an epic drive along the Lytton-Lillooet Highway in beautiful British Columbia, Canada! This winding road hugs the east bank of the mighty Fraser River, offering views that will absolutely blow you away. It’s a single-lane paved road, also known as BC Highway 12, that has some seriously dramatic scenery. Think towering cliffs on one side (prone to avalanches, so keep an eye out!) and heart-stopping drop-offs into what feels like bottomless canyons on the other. You might encounter a few bumps and potholes, but trust me, the views more than make up for it. The road climbs to 474m (1,555ft) above sea level. This 66.2 km (39-mile) stretch runs from Lytton, heading north to Lillooet. Lytton, where the Thompson and Fraser Rivers meet, is famous for being Canada's "Hot Spot" – it even hit a record-breaking 49.6°C (121.3°F) back in 2021! Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours for the drive without stops. Built in 1953, this route delivers sweeping vistas as it carves through a rugged landscape, serving up incredible mountain views at every turn.
moderateWhere is Austin Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so you're heading to Washington state? You HAVE to check out Austin Pass! This baby sits pretty high up in the Cascades, inside the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, at 4,668 feet. You'll find it in the very northwest corner of Washington, practically waving to Canada. The drive up is totally paved on SR 542, so no need to worry about your tires. But don't get too comfy! It’s got some seriously steep parts and hairpin curves that'll keep you on your toes. The pass itself stretches for about 2.6 miles from the Mt. Baker Ski Area (Heather Meadows Base Area) all the way up to the stunning Artist Point — which, by the way, is even higher at 5,140 feet! Word to the wise: because it's so close to the Canadian border, Austin Pass is only open for a short window. Usually, you can hit it up from July until the first big snowfall, which usually happens around late September or early October. Trust me, the views are SO worth planning your trip around!