Snowy Range Pass is one of the most beautiful drives in Wyoming
Usa, north-america
42.16 km
3,310 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, road trip fans, let's talk Snowy Range Pass in Wyoming! This beauty sits way up high at 10,859 feet, making it one of the highest drives in the state. You'll find it straddling Albany and Carbon counties in southern Wyoming, and the name is no joke – expect snow, even in summer!
Originally built as a wagon road back in the 1870s (can you imagine?!), it got paved in the 30s and was dubbed the "Great Skyroad." Now it’s Wyoming Highway 130, the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, and it's a fabulously scenic alternative to boring old I-80.
This two-lane paved road is good to go for any vehicle. The route stretches for about 26 miles between Ryan Park and Centennial.
Keep in mind it does get steep in sections, with some ramps hitting almost 10% grades.
Winding through the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, this road is a seasonal superstar. It usually shuts down around mid-November and doesn't reopen until Memorial Day weekend, thanks to the heavy snow. They don’t plow it during the winter.
Give yourself about an hour to enjoy this drive. Trust me, you’ll want to stop. The Snowy Range Mountains offer views galore, and there are tons of picnic spots, campgrounds, and places to just soak it all in. Lakes are everywhere for fishing or just chilling by the water. And remember to watch out for wildlife, especially at dawn and dusk! Prepare for deep, glacial lakes, meadows that look like paintings, rushing mountain streams, and peaks that will absolutely blow you away.
Where is it?
Snowy Range Pass is one of the most beautiful drives in Wyoming is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 38.7414, -102.6937
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 42.16 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,310 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 38.7414, -102.6937
Related Roads in north-america
hardTravel guide to the top of Dead Indian Hill in WY
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Dead Indian Hill in northern Wyoming's Park County is calling your name! We're talking about a summit sitting pretty at 8,549 feet in the Absaroka Range, with killer views of the Sunlight Basin from up top. Now, this isn't your Sunday drive. The road is completely unpaved, and you'll need a trusty 4x4 to conquer it. There's a gate, but usually it's open and beckoning you forward. Hold on tight, because this climb gets STEEP – we're talking gradients up to 13%! The ascent kicks off at some point, and from there it’s a short but mighty 0.93 miles to the top, gaining 436 feet along the way. The average grade is around 8.86%. The summit itself is home to a few radio towers. Just a heads-up: keep an eye on the weather, because snow can turn this epic drive into a no-go zone real quick.
moderateWhere is Table Rock in Oregon?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you find yourself kicking around Baker County, Oregon, you HAVE to check out Table Rock. We're talking a summit sitting pretty at 7,791 feet, tucked away at the bottom of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest inside the Monument Rock Wilderness. The reward? A sweet fire lookout tower up top! This ain't no replica either; it's the real deal from 1937. But here’s the catch: getting there is an adventure in itself. Forget pavement; you’ll be crawling up NF-1370, a 4.6-mile unpaved road that demands a 4x4. Seriously, if your rig isn't ready to tackle some serious rocks and ruts (we’re talking 10+ inches), you're gonna have a bad time. Oh, and don't even think about it from November to March – Mother Nature slams the door shut with a whole lot of snow. If you start from Elk Flat Campground, you’ll be climbing 1,273 feet over those 4.6 miles, so buckle up for some steady inclines. But trust me, those views? Totally worth the bumpy ride. Get ready for some epic scenery!
hard17 brutal switchbacks in the Green River Cove Road of North Carolina
🇺🇸 Usa
Cruising through Polk County, North Carolina? Green River Cove Road is calling all experienced riders! Picture this: you and your bike, carving through the southwestern part of the state on 10.7 miles of pure riding bliss. This isn't just any road – it's a mountain rollercoaster nestled high in the Appalachians, linking State Road 1138 to Holbert Cove Road. Think tight switchbacks, steep climbs, and a serious test of your skills, all while surrounded by the sprawling, forested Green River Game Lands. This climb is legendary for a reason: 17 hairpin turns that will get your heart pumping. Most of the road clocks in at a respectable 6-8% grade, but those hairpins? Cut them on the inside and you're staring down a jaw-dropping 22% incline! The outer lane offers a slightly gentler 8%, but either way, be prepared to work for it. Keep an eye out for oncoming traffic and get ready for one of the most exhilarating rides in the area.
moderateWhere is Rollins Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Rollins Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.565m (11,696ft) above sea level in the U.S. state of Colorado. Where is Rollins Pass? The pass is located on the boundary between Gilpin, Boulder, and Grand counties in Colorado. It sits to the east of Winter Park on the Continental Divide at the crest of the Front Range southwest of Boulder. Can you drive Rollins Pass? The road to the summit, also known as Corona Pass, is totally unpaved with lots of holes and small to bigger rocks. It follows the path of an old railroad and is called County Road 80 (or Corona Pass Road). This road is not well maintained. A high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is required in the summer in good weather. The road starts a few miles outside the town of Rollinsville and comes to a dead end on the east side of Rollins Pass at the closed Needle Eye Tunnel, a short high altitude railroad tunnel. Is Rollins Pass open? Set high in the Southern Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado, the road to the summit, which was originally known as Boulder Pass, is usually impassable from November 15 through June 15 (depending on snow). How long is Rollins Pass? Starting at US-40, the road to the summit is 16.57km (10.3 miles) long. The drive is pretty steep, hitting a 9% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 782 meters. The average gradient is 4.71%. When was the road to Rollins Pass in Colorado built? This historic road over the Continental Divide was the original Hill Route of the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific Railway built by David H. Moffat in 1903. The first road through the pass was built in 1949. From 1955-1979, Rollins Pass served as a complete road over the mountain pass for automobiles until a rockfall in Needle's Eye tunnel in 1979 closed the path over the pass. In 1988, after several studies and structural strengthening of Needle's Eye was accomplished, the complete road was re-opened only to close permanently in 1990, after a rock fell from the ceiling injuring a Denver firefighter. Is Rollins Pass in Colorado worth it? The drive is worth it. It provides many scenic views of the lakes and the mountains in the area as well as access to the historical Needle Eye tunnel. The area is a popular recreational location for its spectacular views and wildflowers. A steep paved road to Tejon Pass in California Burr Trail is an unforgettable scenic drive in Utah 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.