San José de las Boquillas Pass
Mexico, north-america
15.2 km
2.2 m
moderate
Year-round
Located in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, the Nuevo Leon 20 runs along the San Isidro canyon.
Located within the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, the road is totally paved but prone to floods. It’s one of the best drives of the country, due its landscapes and scenic views. The drive can be divided in 3 sections:
San José de las Boquillas Pass
This is a small town and mountain pass that goes up to 2.200 meters above sea level. This area offers an overview of the San Isidro Canyon, which later the same road will traverse into. It’s 15.2 km long. There's a dangerous 180° hairpin turn in a steep grade inclination of 20°. This is the only dangerous curve. It’s especially dangerous if you’re driving very fast. Easily you can slide out the road.
is the most spectacular section of the road. It traverses a deep canyon cutting huge mountains, which generates huge walls in both sides of 700-800 meters high! Pictures don't make justice or can fit into one image to see the monstrosity. This road traverses the canyon at an avarage of 1.450 meters above the sea level. It’s 5.2km long. This section can be dangerous in rainy season, due the river is right next to the road. It can grow up and be a threat for the traffic. Mudslides and rock falling can be a great danger.
This is a beautiful tropical lush mountain road, crossing the mountains with severe curves and some hairpin turns. This road is especially dangerous due the high traffic volume of tourist vehicles coming from the nearby Cola de Caballo waterfall. This road is dangerous if you don't know how to use the engine brake. Many people died in this route due to the total lack of knowledge and brake failures. The road is pretty steep. It climbs up from the 480 meters above sea level in Villa de Santiago up to 1.550 meters above sea level in the mountains. The elevation gain is more than 1.000 meters with hundreds of curves and steep grades. The section is 7.9 km long.
Road suggested by: Eblem Torres
How to Get by Car to Calakmul, a Maya Site
Driving through the Federal Road 95D
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.
Road Details
- Country
- Mexico
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 15.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 2.2 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
extremeDecker Canyon Road is a drive you'll never forget in Malibu
🇺🇸 Usa
Cruising around Malibu and looking for an epic drive? Decker Canyon Road is calling your name! This baby is located south of Thousand Oaks, snaking through western LA County. Think you're ready for one of Malibu's most scenic (and unforgettable) routes? This 4.7-mile stretch, part of Highway 23, winds south-to-north from the PCH near Trancas up to Mulholland Highway. Named after the OG Decker family from the 1800s, the road climbs fast, with some serious elevation changes (we're talking up to 10%!). The views? Insane. You'll get glimpses of the Pacific and the Santa Monica Mountains... if you can tear your eyes from the road. Decker Canyon is paved, but super narrow with non-stop twists and turns, running parallel to Encinal Canyon Road. Heads up: this isn't a leisurely Sunday drive. Expect hairpin turns right off the bat, so leave the trailer at home. Seriously. Even in a car, it’s a workout. Keep it under 30 mph, watch out for rocks and sand (especially after a storm), and remember those guardrails are few and far between, so keep your eyes on the road! Locals call this the most deadly stretch of road in California with the technical corners, decreasing radius sweepers, elevation changes, and half-mile straights. But if you’re a confident driver or a motorcyclist with a GoPro, this could be your new favorite thrill ride. Just... be careful out there!
moderateIron Mountain Road: 17 Miles, 314 Curves, 14 Switchbacks, 3 Pigtails, and 3 Tunnels
🇺🇸 Usa
# Iron Mountain Road: South Dakota's Epic Twisty Adventure Ready for one of the most thrilling 17-mile drives in the country? Iron Mountain Road in South Dakota's Black Hills is calling your name—and trust us, it's an unforgettable ride. Nestled in the southwestern corner of South Dakota (straddling Pennington and Custer counties), this paved mountain route is an engineering marvel that'll make your head spin—literally. With 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, and three insane pigtails (those loop-de-loop turns that let the road climb nearly straight up the mountainside), this isn't your average scenic drive. The road spirals up to 5,445 feet, weaving through Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park with Mount Rushmore as your dramatic backdrop. Here's what makes Iron Mountain Road legendary: three incredible tunnels that frame perfect views of Mount Rushmore's granite presidents. These one-lane passages are so cool they've become Instagram gold. Fair warning though—if tight curves make your stomach queasy, maybe sit this one out. Seriously. Built way back in 1933, this road was intentionally designed to keep you crawling at 35 mph so you'd actually *experience* the scenery instead of zooming through it. Drop your windows, breathe in that pine-scented mountain air, and soak in the views of valleys and peaks that change with every bend. Just know: this road hibernates in winter (including the summit overlook), and if you're rolling in an RV or hauling a massive trailer, think twice. But if you love curves, mountain vistas, and a drive that'll make you feel genuinely alive? Iron Mountain Road delivers in spades.
moderateWhere is Bearwallow Mountain?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, road trip fans, listen up! I've got the lowdown on Bearwallow Mountain, a seriously epic peak in southwestern New Mexico. We're talking serious altitude here, topping out at a lung-busting elevation. What awaits you at the top? Prepare to be amazed by a vintage lookout tower, dating back to 1940. From this perch, the views are mind-blowing, stretching across the Blue, Gila, and Aldo Leopold Wildernesses, even giving you a peek into Arizona! Now, about the road. Buckle up because it's a wild one! Forest Road 146 is entirely unpaved and pretty rough in spots. You'll definitely want a high-clearance vehicle for this adventure; leave the RV and trailer at home. Trust me, turning around would be a nightmare. The road clocks in at roughly 10 miles, climbing significantly with an average gradient. Translation: you'll feel it. Some sections max out. You can usually hit this road between May and November, but winter is a no-go. Ice and snow make it impassable.
hardWhere is Reward Mine located?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're in Inyo County, California, smack-dab in the eastern desert, with the Inyo Mountains looming and Mount Whitney keeping watch. You're heading to the Reward Mine – or the Brown Monster Mine, if you're feeling dramatic. This place is a trip! It's an abandoned mining camp with a history going back to the late 1800s, not far from the Manzanar Historical Monument. This place was a gold and lead ore hotspot, mined until the 70s. Now, the mine itself? It’s HUGE – eight levels connected and stretching over 500 feet! The craziest part? The main tunnel is so big you could drive a truck through it! And you can drive a ways inside – we’re talking a quarter mile! Once inside, the trail is soft dirt. But listen up: driving into this mine is not without risk! It's riddled with signs of collapse, and being near an active earthquake zone means a cave-in could happen at any time. Getting to the mine isn't a walk in the park either. The road is rocky, steep, and littered with boulders. You'll need a 4WD beast with good ground clearance and off-road tires to make it. Also, be sure you are not alone. It can be difficult to find, there are no signs, and you must drive uphill on a gravel road. Once you arrive, park and explore the depths by foot! It’s an awesome adventure, but be smart and stay safe out there!