Lee Pass
Usa, north-america
8.5 km
1.903 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Zion National Park in southwestern Utah, and you stumble upon the legendary Lee Pass. This isn't just any road; it's a 5.3-mile asphalt ribbon winding its way up to 6,082 feet above sea level!
The drive? Simply breathtaking. Think postcard views at every turn as you climb toward the Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, which sits even higher at 6,243 feet! The unique rock formations here are seriously unreal.
Word of warning though: Mother Nature calls the shots here, especially in winter. Snowstorms can temporarily shut things down, though they do plow it. So, keep an eye on the forecast! But trust me, if you get the chance, this twisting road is a must-do for any road trip adventure.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 8.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1.903 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
moderateBurro Pass
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! We're heading to Burro Pass in Grand County, Utah – a seriously scenic spot nestled high in the La Sal Mountains. Now, the road itself (Forest Road 0240) doesn’t *quite* reach the actual pass summit (which sits at a lofty 11,200 feet). Instead, it climbs to a respectable 10,488 feet, where you'll find the Burro Pass Trailhead. The road is short and sweet – only about half a mile – but don't underestimate it! You'll definitely want a 4-wheel drive vehicle for this little jaunt. Once you reach the trailhead, the final push to the true pass is all hiking or mountain biking only. Get ready for incredible views!
hardWhere is Bruin Point?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're chasing Utah's biggest peaks, Bruin Point is calling your name. Perched high up at 10,193 feet, this summit offers views that'll make your jaw drop. You'll find it tucked away in Utah, and while the top's a bit crowded with communication gear, that means the road is generally in decent shape. Now, about that road... it's called Wild Horse Road, and it's a 10-mile dirt track that'll keep you on your toes. Think rocky terrain and a pretty steep climb. You're looking at gaining over 3,000 feet in elevation, so expect an average gradient of 6%. I'd recommend a high-clearance vehicle for this one, and 4x4 wouldn't hurt, especially when heading back down. The road is narrow and winding, and meeting oncoming traffic can be a bit of a squeeze. But hey, that's part of the adventure, right? Get ready for some epic scenery!
extremeMount Wilcox
🇺🇸 Usa
ount Wilcox is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.770m (12,368ft) above the sea level, located in Summit County, central Colorado, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado. Located in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, the road to the summit is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times. High winds blow here all year long. The wind is usually quite strong at mountain areas. It's an old mine road. This road is rough and seems to get rougher with each passing year. The road is usually impassable from October to June (weather permitting). Even in summer you can confront with snowy days. Great trail for experienced wheelers. Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. 4x4 vehicle with high clearance required. Mt. Wilcox was named after a methodist minister by the name of John Edwards Wilcox who was a prominant figure in the Georgetown area. Notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters. Extremely low oxygen for engine combustion. This drive demonstrates a prime example of the Rocky Mountain environment. Jersey Jim Lookout Tower 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.
extremeHow long is Shelf Road in Colorado?
🇺🇸 Usa
Shelf Road is an adventurous and rugged mountain drive spanning Fremont and Teller counties in the US state of Colorado. This is a great drive if you're brave and trust the person behind the wheel. If you don't like steep extreme drop-offs, don't take the road. It's very narrow in some spots, and two vehicles can't go through. How long is Shelf Road in Colorado? This narrow mountain road is 21.4 km (13.3 miles) long, running south-north from the city of Cañon City (in Fremont County), where it begins, to 21.7 km (13.5 miles) north of Cañon City, where it changes from Fremont County Highway 9 (Garden Park Road) to Shelf Road, to the city of Cripple Creek (in Teller County). The road is mostly unpaved and pretty steep. It climbs from 1,902 m (6,240 ft) above sea level to 2,863 m (9,393 ft) above sea level. The elevation gain is 961 m, and the average gradient is 3.80%. It is part of the Gold Belt Scenic Byway Is Shelf Road dangerous? Most vehicles should not have any issues from its start to its finish. However, if the road is wet or snowy, it could give any vehicle some trouble, and vehicles with all-wheel drive are probably best. It has great views but is a little scary in parts, especially when there is oncoming traffic. It’s a one-lane, two-way dirt road on the side of a cliff with blind corners. It's a dirt road that's often narrow and at times clings to the side of a hill, with very little room to spare. It’s a two-way road that is just over a single vehicle wide in many places. You’ll be close enough to shake hands with the other driver. The road is carved along the side of a cliff that is supposed to fit two lanes, but really only fits one. It is used by employees of the Cripple Creek gold mine (the large light-colored area on the satellite view below) who use Shelf Road to commute twice each day, are very familiar with it, so they travel it much faster than you’d consider safe! They can appear very quickly around any sharp turn. The really bad, scary 'shelf' part is the first three or four miles of Shelf Road coming from Canon City heading north toward Cripple Creek where it is the steepest and narrowest. When you are going this way, the passenger will be on the cliff side of the shelf looking down. Nervous passengers feel more comfortable when traveling south, as they will be on the wall side, and the driver will be on the cliff side. Check status before you go as roads sometimes close due to washouts or accidents. When was Shelf Road in Colorado built? The road was built in 1892 as a toll road, offers scenic views, and is good for all skill levels. Originally, it was a stagecoach route that delivered goods to and from Cripple Creek and Canon City. The road gets its name because it’s carved out of the canyon wall and goes up more than 100 feet in some places. Is Shelf Road in Colorado scenic? he road and the scenery it offers can be pretty spectacular given the steep pitch of the surrounding cliffs, with lots of hairpin turns as the road ascends, hugging the side of the mountain crossing over limestone cliffs with twists and turns through the area. Sightseeing is better left to passengers as the driver must concentrate on staying on the road and avoiding other vehicles. What's the high-speed pursuit of Shelf Road? Shelf Road was once the scene of a "high-speed" pursuit. At 9:30 pm on November 1, 2020, an armed fugitive from justice with five felony warrants led local city police from three cities and Sheriff’s deputies from two counties on a high-speed chase from Cañon City north through Cripple Creek by way of Shelf Road. One can only imagine the frantic, reckless drive up Shelf Road of one car followed by the many flashing red and blue lights that illuminated the dark along with the screaming sirens echoing off the steep canyon walls along the way. The fugitive fired at deputies and officers as he fled, crashed his car, evaded police on foot, and was apprehended the next day in an abandoned cabin. Just days after being sentenced to 34 years in prison he escaped the Teller County jail, and a manhunt captured him again four days later. Now he is part of the local folklore of Shelf Road. Road suggested by: Catrìona M. MacKirnan Driving the scenic Saddle Road in Hawaii Dare to drive the Yankee Boy Basin Road in Colorado 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.