A wild road to Tomichi Pass in Colorado

A wild road to Tomichi Pass in Colorado

Usa, north-america

Length

1.6 km

Elevation

3,657 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Tomichi Pass in Colorado's Chaffee County is calling your name! This isn't your average Sunday drive – we're talking a thrilling, unpaved climb to 11,998 feet!

Forest Road 888, that's your ticket. It winds from Brittle Silver Basin up to the old mining town of Whitepine. Picture this: a steep, narrow shelf road carved into the mountainside. Not for the faint of heart (or those with a fear of heights!), but totally doable in a stock, high-clearance SUV with low-range gearing.

Dating back to the 1870s and nestled in Gunnison National Forest, this road throws down some serious Rocky Mountain vibes in the Sawatch Range. Heads up – she’s usually snowed in from late October until almost July.

Get ready for a climb! The ascent from Forest Service Road 839 is just under a mile, but you'll gain over 500 feet, making for an average gradient of almost 10%.

The real kicker? It's tight! Passing other vehicles on the north side is a HUGE challenge. Be prepared to reverse a good distance if you meet someone coming the other way. While there aren't any crazy obstacles, expect some moderately rocky sections.

Keep an eye out for the shelf road (stunning but narrow) and the bridge – surprisingly, it's the trickiest part! It's a little worse for wear, and if it's wet, you might find yourself sliding. The southern approach is your basic, smooth forest road. And stay alert – rockslides happen!

The views? Absolutely incredible! You'll get a killer look at Hancock Pass and Middle Quartz Creek, but the driver really only gets to enjoy it once you reach the top. The pass is super close to Hancock Pass too.

Where is it?

A wild road to Tomichi Pass in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 39.1592, -97.1461

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Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
1.6 km
Max Elevation
3,657 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
39.1592, -97.1461

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