Is High Park Road in Colorado Paved?

Is High Park Road in Colorado Paved?

Usa, north-america

Length

29.77 km

Elevation

2,550 m

Difficulty

easy

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, road trippers, buckle up for High Park Road, aka County Road 11, snaking through the gorgeous Fremont and Teller counties in southern Colorado! This beauty is totally paved and part of the historic Gold Belt Scenic Byway. It used to be a simple trail connecting ranches and farms to Cañon City, but now it's a smooth ride through some amazing scenery.

Perched high in the Rockies, High Park Road summits at a cool 8,366 feet above sea level. Good news: it’s usually open year-round, but keep an eye on the weather in winter, as those mountain conditions can cause temporary closures.

This 18.5-mile stretch runs north-south from CO-9 to County Road 112. Budget about 30 minutes for the drive if you're not stopping to soak in the views (but trust me, you’ll WANT to!). Get ready for an unforgettable journey.

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
29.77 km
Max Elevation
2,550 m
Difficulty
easy

Related Roads in north-america

Skalkaho Mountainhard

Skalkaho Mountain

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, buckle up for Skalkaho Mountain in southwest Montana! This peak hits an elevation of 8,464 feet, so be ready for some serious views. You'll find yourself in the heart of Bitterroot National Forest, and keep your eyes peeled – you might spot elk, deer, coyotes, or even a black bear! Now, about the road... It's called Gird Cr Road (Forest Road 714), and let's just say it's an adventure. Think gravel, rocks, and a bumpy ride that might have you tilting in your seat! This trail is perfect if you're an experienced off-roader and have a 4x4 vehicle. If unpaved mountain roads aren't your thing, or if you're afraid of heights, this might be one to skip. It can get pretty steep, and wet conditions can make it extra muddy and challenging. But if you're up for it, the views are SO worth it!

How long is Boulder Mountain Pass?extreme

How long is Boulder Mountain Pass?

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, road trip fans, listen up! We're heading to Boulder Mountain Pass in Utah's Garfield County, and let me tell you, it's a stunner! We're talking serious altitude here – 9,606 feet above sea level! This fully paved beauty stretches for about 29 miles between Boulder and Grover, making it the highest point along that stretch of road. Built way back in the '20s, this route is packed with history! Now, don't think it's just a leisurely cruise. There are some seriously steep sections, with grades hitting up to 8% in places. Keep that engine purring! The road's open all year, but be warned: winter storms can shut things down until the plows do their magic. Also, heads up, cell service is spotty (or nonexistent!) in these remote parts. Plus, expect some tight curves and narrow shoulders along the way. But trust me, the views are worth it!

Lippincott Mine Road in California is for experienced 4WD drivers and vehicles onlyextreme

Lippincott Mine Road in California is for experienced 4WD drivers and vehicles only

🇺🇸 Usa

# Lippincott Mine Road: Death Valley's Ultimate 4WD Challenge Ready for one of the most intense backcountry drives in America? Lippincott Mine Road sits right in the heart of Death Valley National Park, sandwiched between Lone Pine and Stovepipe Wells in eastern California. This 7-mile stretch of pure adrenaline connects Racetrack Valley Road to Saline Valley Road, and it's definitely not a casual Sunday drive. Here's the thing—this is 100% unpaved and built back in 1906 to access the old Lippincott Mine. The warnings at both ends say it all: "NOT MAINTAINED" and "EXPERIENCED DRIVERS USING 4X4 HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLES ONLY." They're not exaggerating. You'll navigate narrow, winding switchbacks with cliff-edge washouts that'll make your palms sweat. In some spots, you're literally working with just a foot or two of gravel between your tire and a drop that could be hundreds of feet down. No guardrails, no cell service, no towing, no water sources—you're on your own out here. The elevation plunges from 3,876 feet to 2,256 feet, and the low-range climbing is serious work. Expect massive rocks that could wreck your undercarriage, intense Death Valley heat that'll test your cooling system (especially with canyon winds pushing from behind), and sections that have washed out repeatedly. This requires serious 4WD skills, proper gear (spare tires, shovel, survival kit, lots of water), and respect for the terrain. The payoff? Spectacular views at the saddle, an incredible sense of accomplishment, and access to one of Death Valley's wildest routes. Just know what you're getting into—this road earns its reputation as one of the most challenging drives on the planet.

Is there a road up Mt. Whitney?hard

Is there a road up Mt. Whitney?

🇺🇸 Usa

Whitney Portal Road is a short but spectacular drive that takes you about halfway up Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States, in Inyo County, in the US state of California. Is there a road up Mt. Whitney? Tucked away in the eastern central part of California, the road is 19.31km (12 miles) long, starting at Lone Pine. It’s totally paved. The road connects Lone Pine to Whitney Portal (the Whitney Portal Store is at the Portal, and the store is open in the summer). Is the road to Whitney Portal open? Set high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Whitney Portal Road usually opens sometime in early May, with the first major winter storm shutting it down sometime in November, meaning it is not maintained or cleared of snow. However, it is not physically barred, and climbers routinely drive as far as conditions will allow. The road is not gated or otherwise physically blocked; call the Inyo National Forest for information. Weather and road conditions can change in an instant. Can you see Mount Whitney from the road? The road ends at 2,557m (8,389ft) above sea level at Whitney Portal, where there is a close view of Mount Whitney. When was Whitney Portal Road in California built? The road to the summit was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. How long does it take to drive Whitney Portal Road in California? To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 25 and 35 minutes. The drive features sweeping views. It twists and turns through an otherworldly landscape known as the Alabama Hills, a set of bizarrely constructed rock piles, before setting on a fairly straight shot for the foothills of Mount Whitney. Alabama Hills are the scene of literally hundreds of cowboy films, but the road has a film history, too. The steep, sharp switchbacks along the Whitney Portal Road were prominent in scenes in the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz film "The Long, Long Trailer," in which Lucy surreptitiously fills a travel trailer with her rock collection until it’s too heavy to ascend the grade. The road is also featured in the 1941 classic, "High Sierra," starring Humphrey Bogart. The vistas change dramatically as you draw closer to the mountains, seeming more and more massive until suddenly they overwhelm you, and you're a part of them, looking back down on the road, the hills, and the Owens Valley. In other words, there's plenty of time to think about what you're getting yourself into. Is Whitney Portal Road in California challenging? This route is paved but narrow, steep, and winding with dramatic switchbacks. There is a risk of rock slides on the way up. It’s very steep, with some 14% gradients. It is a great and difficult climb out of the high desert up towards Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48. The road has some narrow parts and blind corners. Like most eastern Sierra ascents, this one starts out tame and ends up tough. The grade generally increases as you climb so that a five-mile stretch in the 2nd half averages 9%. The hill lets up just before the finish at Whitney Portal and a parking/hiking area (trailhead to Mt. Whitney). Whitney Portal is also very similar to the famed French climb of The narrow road to Schofield Pass in Colorado is for experienced drivers only The creepy story of Sensabaugh Tunnel in Tennessee Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our 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  to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.