
Wilson Peak
Usa, north-america
N/A
3,719 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so you're in San Miguel County, Colorado, itching for an adventure? Then Wilson Peak is calling your name! This beast clocks in at a whopping 12,201 feet, making it one of Colorado's highest drives.
Forget smooth tarmac – this is a proper old mining road, all gravel, rocks, and seriously bumpy. You'll need a 4x4 with high clearance to even think about tackling it. Trust me, a standard sedan will be crying before you even get started.
Fair warning: this baby is usually snowed in from September to July, so plan your trip accordingly. Plus, it's steep! And if it's wet, expect mud, mud, and more mud. Not for the faint of heart, especially if you're scared of heights.
But oh, the views! Nestled in the Lizard Head Wilderness within the Uncompahgre National Forest, the scenery is absolutely epic. Wilson Peak is a Colorado icon, and some even call it "Coors Peak." You might also recognize it from Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight". Experienced off-roaders will be in heaven. Just be prepared for a wild ride!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 3,719 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in north-america
easyWhere is Cottonwood Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Cottonwood Pass in Colorado! This high-altitude beauty straddles Chaffee and Gunnison counties in central Colorado. We're talking serious elevation here – a whopping 12,126 feet! It's one of the highest paved roads you'll find in the state. The backstory? The Forest Service needed a timber route back in '55, and voila, a dirt road was born by '58. Fast forward to 2019, and now it's all smooth asphalt, baby! The 31.7-mile stretch is a shortcut from Buena Vista to County Road 742, near Taylor Park Reservoir. You'll cruise east on Chaffee County Road 306, which magically morphs into Gunnison County Road 209 near the top as you head west. Expect some seriously tight switchbacks near the summit. We're talking a 15 mph speed limit! The road gets steep in sections (up to a 10% gradient), so if you're towing an RV or piloting a massive motorhome, be prepared for a bit of a challenge. Open seasonally (usually from May to October), this route gifts you with panoramic views of the Sawatch Range in your standard car. Just a heads-up: mountain weather can be unpredictable, so aim for an early visit to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. Altitude sickness and hypothermia are real concerns, so respect the mountains! Snow at the summit is a strong possibility year-round. Keep an eye out for mudslides during heavy rains, just in case! Budget about an hour for the drive. The fall colors are epic. The parking area at the top offers insane views. And on the way down, don't miss the overlooks. Trust me, this drive is worth every second!
easyWhere is MacDonald Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
MacDonald Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.930m (6,332ft) above sea level, located in the U.S. state of Montana. Where is MacDonald Pass? The pass is located just west of Helena, on the boundary between Powell County and Lewis and Clark counties, within the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. When was the road through MacDonald Pass built? The road to the summit dates back to the 1860s. It was originally a toll road. Is MacDonald Pass paved? The road to the summit, also known as McDonald Pass, is totally paved. It’s called U.S. Route 12. The drive, largely flat and pleasant, is very scenic. The road definitely has some twists and turns. How long is MacDonald Pass? The road is 70.81km (44.0 miles) long, running west-east from Garrison (in Powell County) to Helena, the state capital of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. Is MacDonald Pass open in winter? Set high in the Rocky Mountains, on the Continental Divide, the road is usually open all year round but short-term closures are common in winter. CanAm Highway is a sensational drive from Mexico to Canada through the USA A memorable road trip to Paradise Basin 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.
hardWhen was Ruta Tepehuana built?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Ruta Tepehuana (Camino a Huzamota) is located in Durango, Mexico. This road is known for being windy, narrow, and potentially hazardous, offering views of the Sierra Madre mountains and canyons. Elevations range from 2,700 meters above sea level to the canyon's bottom at 500-0 meters. When was Ruta Tepehuana built? The road was inaugurated in 2014 and became a fully operational paved road by 2016. It passes through five different biomes: painted desert, cactus desert, pine forest, oak forest, and tropical jungle. How long is Ruta Tepehuana? Spanning 288 km (178 miles), this steep road connects Durango city with the area near Jesus María in Nayarit. How’s driving Ruta Tepehuana? The road's first section includes a mountain pass and a canyon pass. Starting at 1,430 meters above sea level in Mezquital, Durango, it rises to 2,490 meters, offering views of the Mezquital valley and canyons. It then descends to Temoaya town at 1,300 meters and further to the Mezquital River at 1,090 meters. After crossing the river, the road climbs to 2,540 meters, with views of the Mezquital canyon, pine forests, cactus deserts, and oak forests. The next segment descends to Huazamota, starting from Llano Grande at 2,300 meters and moving through a pine forest stretch up to 2,700 meters. Owned by the indigenous Tepehuan people, the road then descends from Mesa de las Milpas community at 2,600 meters to 600 meters in San Antonio de Padua over less than 35 kilometers. This descent passes through pine and oak forests, tropical forests, and cactus-laden canyon areas. After San Juan Peyotan, there is a junction where Mexico 23 meets Mexico 44, offering views of the Sierra Madre Mountains. In either direction, the road offers breathtaking views of the Sierra Madre Mountains, either towards Is Ruta Tepehuana dangerous? You might see only one or two vehicles per hour, but many pedestrians, mainly indigenous people. The area is known for drug trafficking and has a high risk of kidnappings or extortion. The road features sharp turns and challenging curves. Speeds rarely exceed 40 mph and are often closer to 30 mph. Some areas lack signals and road paint, complicating night driving. Potholes and Falling Rocks: Potholes are common, especially near mountain cuts, and falling rocks are a hazard. Pedestrians and Guardrails: Pedestrians sometimes walk in the middle of the road. Some areas lack guardrails beside canyons. Driving at night is not recommended due to sharp turns and frequent fog. The route has steep and extended downhill sections, which can overheat brakes. Engine braking is essential to prevent brake failure. The elevation changes by a combined total of 4,000 meters. Sparse throughout most of the route. Road suggested by: Eblem Torres Cumbres de Maltrata is a dangerous Mexican road A challenging 4x4 road to Cerro Potosí, one of the Mexico's highest peaks 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.
hardWhere is Bullion King Lake?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: Bullion King Lake, a shimmering turquoise jewel nestled high in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, just north of Silverton. Getting there? It's an adventure in itself! Forest Road 822 (aka Porphyry Gulch Road or Bullion King Lake Trail) is a totally unpaved 2.9-mile climb starting from the Million Dollar Highway. We're talking about a serious elevation gain here – almost 1,600 feet! That's an average grade of over 10%, so yeah, it gets steep. The road's super narrow with some crazy tight switchbacks, and definitely requires 4WD and some off-road driving skills. There's even a section that's a high, narrow shelf road that might make your palms sweat if you're not used to this kind of thing. Oh, and those steep drop-offs? They're real! You might even see a sign that says "Rough and dangerous road ahead, travel not recommended", but it's not as bad as it sounds. This route is usually snowed in from October to June. At the top, there's a small parking lot, and it's a short walk to the lake itself. But, the views along the way? Incredible! Plus, you'll pass a few cool abandoned mines. Trust me, this drive is worth the effort. Just be prepared for a wild ride!