A mining road to Rogers Pass

A mining road to Rogers Pass

Usa, north-america

Length

4.02 km

Elevation

3,633 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! Rogers Pass in Colorado's Gilpin and Grand counties is calling your name. Perched way up at 11,919 feet, this isn't your average Sunday drive.

Forget pavement โ€“ we're talking rugged, unadulterated shelf road that'll make your palms sweat (in a good way!). This former mining route definitely isn't for the faint of heart. We're talking steep, rocky stretches above the treeline, so a high-clearance 4x4 is an absolute must. (Private vehicles closed though.)

You'll find this beast in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, smack-dab in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest. The 2.5-mile climb kicks off from Corona Pass Road (County Road 80), gaining a solid 800 feet in elevation โ€“ that's a roughly 6% average grade. Don't even think about tackling this one in winter; it's definitely not plowed. Be warned โ€“ itโ€™s often chilly and windy up here, and snow can stick around well into July at this altitude. The reward? Jaw-dropping views of the cirque and shimmering lakes that will make it all worth it.

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Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
4.02 km
Max Elevation
3,633 m
Difficulty
hard

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