Ultimate 4wd destination: Peak 10 in Colorado
Usa, north-america
10.94 km
4,085 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, fellow adventurers, let's talk Peak 10 in Colorado's Summit County! This isn't your average Sunday drive; we're talking a serious climb to a whopping 13,402 feet above sea level. Forest Service Road 751, also known as Peak 9 Road or 4th of July Bowl, is a completely unpaved beast that winds its way up the Tenmile Range in the Rockies.
Think rugged scenery because you'll be surrounded by it. The road mainly serves as access for ski lift and lodge maintenance, plus you'll find a weather station chilling near the old Briar Rose mine ruins at the summit.
This high-altitude shelf road is no joke, folks. It's a steep climb, averaging around 9.55% grade, with some sections hitting a maximum of 12%. From the starting point near Breckenridge, you'll cover about 6.8 miles, gaining a massive 3,592 feet in elevation.
Heads up: 4WD with good ground clearance is a must. You'll definitely need low-range gearing for the final push. The upper part of the trail is super narrow, rocky, and exposed, and those switchbacks are tight and loose. But if you're up for the challenge, the views in the Arapaho National Forest are absolutely worth it. Just remember, this adventure is best tackled when the snow has melted!
Where is it?
Ultimate 4wd destination: Peak 10 in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 37.3426, -98.1388
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 10.94 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,085 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 37.3426, -98.1388
Related Roads in north-america
moderateWhere is Mount McIntyre?
🇨🇦 Canada
Okay, buckle up for a Yukon adventure! We're heading up Mount McIntyre, a local favorite in northwestern Canada. Heads up: this isn't a Sunday drive. The road to the top? Let's just say it's "rustic." It's unpaved and can get pretty gnarly, so you'll definitely want a 4x4 with decent clearance to make it. Locals say it's only accessible for part of the year. The payoff? Epic views and a VHF Omni Directional Radio Range (VOR) at the very top! The climb is around 14.7 km (9.13 miles) from bottom to top. Over this distance, you'll gain a hefty 827 meters in elevation, so that's an average gradient is 5.62%. This route is seriously scenic but keep your eyes on the road!
extremeWhere is Lemoigne Canyon Road?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, adventure-seekers! I'm talking about Lemoigne Canyon Road, deep in Death Valley National Park in eastern-central California. This ain't your average Sunday drive! First off, you're gonna need a serious 4x4 with high clearance. Seriously. This 4.2-mile stretch is infamous for its massive washouts, relentless rocks, and generally unforgiving terrain. We're talking ruts, gullies, the whole shebang. Trust me, you'll be crawling along. The road starts off Highway 178, about 6 miles south of Stovepipe Wells. You'll eventually reach a barrier after about 4.2 miles, but parking or camping spots will appear before then. Don't even THINK about trying to take your standard car past the barrier! Expect a slow crawl – think a few hours to conquer this 4.2-mile beast. But, despite the bone-jarring ride, you’ll find yourself surrounded by stark, beautiful desert scenery, so it's worth the trek. The canyon itself, named after a French mining engineer, is steeped in history (lead-zinc-silver deposits, anyone?). Beyond the barrier, the old road transforms into a hiking trail leading further into the canyon, where you can explore on foot. Just remember to be prepared for a serious challenge!
hardWhere is Terrible Mountain?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, adventure junkies! Today we're talking about Terrible Mountain Road in Colorado's Gunnison National Forest. Forget paved paradise, this is a seriously rugged dirt track snaking its way up to a whopping 12,014 feet! Terrible Mountain Road is not for the faint of heart. We're talking narrow paths, sheer drop-offs, and a surface that’ll test your suspension (and your nerves). Seriously, think twice before bringing anything less than a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. But if you’re brave enough to tackle it, you'll be rewarded with some killer views of the Sawatch Range. Just be sure to plan your trip between late July and early September. Anything earlier or later, and you'll likely find yourself snowed in. Trust me, this road lives up to its name, but the payoff is epic!
hardVanderbilt
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so you're heading to Vanderbilt, a super cool ghost town nestled in Nevada's Eureka County. This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. The road to this old mining town (also known as Geddes) is a mix of gravel and sand, so be prepared for a bumpy ride. Word to the wise: conditions change like the Nevada weather! One day it's smooth sailing, the next you're battling washboards. This is seriously remote territory, so make sure your ride is prepped and ready. Break down out here, and you're mostly on your own – plus, cell service can be spotty. Keep an eye out for an ore bin clinging to the mountainside—that's your landmark! Fun fact: This road is actually the remains of the old Eastern California Railway. You'll definitely want something with clearance. A high-clearance two-wheel drive might make it, but for that last stretch, four-wheel drive is your best bet. Dry conditions? Could be a piece of cake. Wet weather? Get ready for a muddy, slippery challenge. Seriously, it can become impassable after it rains. Back in 1870, Vanderbilt was a bustling little place. Think 150 residents, a hotel, stores, restaurants, doctor's offices, saloons – the works! They were pulling gold and silver out of the ground like crazy, employing over 300 miners. Today, all that's left are some mill ruins scattered around Secret Canyon. Nevada's packed with over 600 ghost towns, which is more than actual towns in the state. Pretty wild, right?