A rugged single-lane road to Surveyors Ridge in ID
Usa, north-america
N/A
1,886 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about Surveyors Ridge! You'll find this beauty tucked away in Idaho's Shoshone County, chilling at a cool 6,187 feet.
Getting there is part of the fun – it's all about Road 395A, a totally unpaved, single-lane track with just enough pullouts to keep things interesting. Think rugged! If your ride's got low clearance, maybe sit this one out. And heads up, things can get slick when it's wet.
The prize at the top? A lookout tower with views that'll knock your socks off! Built way back in 1931 and revamped in '64, it gives you a killer panorama of Snow Peak and the endless mountains all around. Just a heads up, you're out there! The nearest town with actual services, St. Regis, Montana, is a good 2.5-hour drive away. Plan accordingly!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 1,886 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
moderateCaminos de Sierra de Juarez (San Juan Petlapa Road)
🇲🇽 Mexico
Craving a Mexican adventure that'll test your driving skills and reward you with unforgettable views? The road to San Juan Petlapa is calling! Forget your average highway – this route, starting near Villa Diaz Ordaz, is a wild ride through the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. Imagine this: you begin at 1720 meters above sea level and climb rapidly to Cuajimoloyas at a staggering 3170 meters in just 20 kilometers! From there, you'll descend into valleys, hitting lows around 850 meters, before winding back up again. Weave through charming towns perched on mountainsides, each turn revealing even more breathtaking scenery. Be prepared for switchbacks galore, especially in the stretch between San Cristobal Lachirioag and San Juan Tabaá – over 40 in just 10 kilometers as you carve your way through a canyon! After navigating past San Cristobal Lachirioag and San Idelfonso Villa Alta, you'll tackle another series of hairpin turns near Santa María Temaxcalapa, climbing to a mountain pass of 2400 meters. Finally, a rapid descent brings you to San Juan Petlapa at 660 meters. Keep in mind that the road is rough paved in several sections, with high grades and tight switchbacks, and even towns to drive through! As of now, there's some construction happening beyond San Juan Petlapa towards Jocotepec. This drive is not for the faint of heart, but the stunning mountain vistas and unique cultural experiences make it an adventure you won't soon forget.
hardIs there a road up Mt. Whitney?
🇺🇸 Usa
Whitney Portal Road is a short but spectacular drive that takes you about halfway up Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States, in Inyo County, in the US state of California. Is there a road up Mt. Whitney? Tucked away in the eastern central part of California, the road is 19.31km (12 miles) long, starting at Lone Pine. It’s totally paved. The road connects Lone Pine to Whitney Portal (the Whitney Portal Store is at the Portal, and the store is open in the summer). Is the road to Whitney Portal open? Set high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Whitney Portal Road usually opens sometime in early May, with the first major winter storm shutting it down sometime in November, meaning it is not maintained or cleared of snow. However, it is not physically barred, and climbers routinely drive as far as conditions will allow. The road is not gated or otherwise physically blocked; call the Inyo National Forest for information. Weather and road conditions can change in an instant. Can you see Mount Whitney from the road? The road ends at 2,557m (8,389ft) above sea level at Whitney Portal, where there is a close view of Mount Whitney. When was Whitney Portal Road in California built? The road to the summit was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. How long does it take to drive Whitney Portal Road in California? To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 25 and 35 minutes. The drive features sweeping views. It twists and turns through an otherworldly landscape known as the Alabama Hills, a set of bizarrely constructed rock piles, before setting on a fairly straight shot for the foothills of Mount Whitney. Alabama Hills are the scene of literally hundreds of cowboy films, but the road has a film history, too. The steep, sharp switchbacks along the Whitney Portal Road were prominent in scenes in the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz film "The Long, Long Trailer," in which Lucy surreptitiously fills a travel trailer with her rock collection until it’s too heavy to ascend the grade. The road is also featured in the 1941 classic, "High Sierra," starring Humphrey Bogart. The vistas change dramatically as you draw closer to the mountains, seeming more and more massive until suddenly they overwhelm you, and you're a part of them, looking back down on the road, the hills, and the Owens Valley. In other words, there's plenty of time to think about what you're getting yourself into. Is Whitney Portal Road in California challenging? This route is paved but narrow, steep, and winding with dramatic switchbacks. There is a risk of rock slides on the way up. It’s very steep, with some 14% gradients. It is a great and difficult climb out of the high desert up towards Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48. The road has some narrow parts and blind corners. Like most eastern Sierra ascents, this one starts out tame and ends up tough. The grade generally increases as you climb so that a five-mile stretch in the 2nd half averages 9%. The hill lets up just before the finish at Whitney Portal and a parking/hiking area (trailhead to Mt. Whitney). Whitney Portal is also very similar to the famed French climb of The narrow road to Schofield Pass in Colorado is for experienced drivers only The creepy story of Sensabaugh Tunnel in Tennessee 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.
hardWhy is Lombard Street in San Francisco so famous?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: San Francisco, Russian Hill. You're cruising towards Lombard Street, specifically the block between Hyde and Leavenworth. What makes it so special? It’s famously the "most crooked street in the world!" Seriously, this one-block section has eight hairpin turns, making it a seriously fun (and slow) descent. Think stunning Victorian mansions, overflowing flower boxes, and incredible views of the city as you crawl down. Seriously bring your camera. This isn't a highway, it's an experience. The top speed is a crawl (5 mph!) and you'll be inching along as you navigate the twists and turns. Built back in 1922, those switchbacks weren't just for show. The natural grade of the hill was a crazy 27%, way too steep for cars back then (or even now, honestly). So, they zigzagged the road to make it manageable – and iconic! Sure, some say Vermont Street might be *even* more crooked, but Lombard is the real deal! Keep in mind, especially in the summer, there WILL be a line. But don't let that deter you. Even watching other cars navigate the street is entertainment. You may recognize the street from movies like ‘Vertigo’, ‘Driving in San Francisco’ or ‘The Simpsons.’ Lombard Street is a must-do San Francisco experience.
moderateHow to Get by Car to Marmot Basin in Alberta?
🇨🇦 Canada
Okay, road trip lovers, listen up! If you're heading to Alberta, Canada, you HAVE to check out the drive up to Marmot Basin ski resort. We're talking a climb to 1,989m (6,525 ft) above sea level in the heart of Jasper National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, no less! The adventure kicks off from the AB-93A, and the climb is a super manageable 13.5 km (8.38 miles). You'll gain a solid 828 meters of elevation along the way, mostly on a smooth asphalt road with gradients around 5-7%. They call this beauty Marmot Road, and it's mostly paved, but be warned: the final 1.5 km turns to dirt. Don’t worry, though – it's totally doable in most cars. The real star of the show? The views! Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Just a heads-up: mountain weather is no joke, so make sure your ride is ready for anything. Trust me, this drive is worth it!