An awe-inspiring drive to Paulina Peak in Oregon
Usa, north-america
6.27 km
2,434 m
hard
Year-round
Wanna experience one of Oregon's highest roads? Head to Paulina Peak in Deschutes County, nestled within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
The road, NF-500 (Paulina Peak Road), kicks off from Forest Service Road 21 and stretches for about 3.9 miles to the top. It's unpaved, so expect a bit of a bumpy ride, but most cars can make it. Just be aware that it can get pretty narrow and rough in spots. Shorter vehicles (under 23 feet) are recommended. Don't forget your recreation pass for parking!
Get ready for a climb! You'll gain about 1,578 feet in elevation, with some sections hitting a 9% grade. The road is typically open from early July to late October/early November, depending on the snow.
Trust me, the views are worth it. This spot offers incredible panoramic views of the Newberry Caldera, the volcano's flanks, the Cascades, and beyond. On a clear day, you can even spot Mt. Shasta in California and Mt. Adams in Washington. Oh, and keep an eye out for bears – they're known to hang around the campsites in the crater! Allocate at least 25 minutes for the drive, but you'll want to budget extra time for photos and exploring.
Where is it?
An awe-inspiring drive to Paulina Peak in Oregon is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 42.4047, -98.5079
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 6.27 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,434 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 42.4047, -98.5079
Related Roads in north-america
moderatePioneer Lift
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure junkies, let's talk Pioneer Lift at Winter Park Resort in Colorado! We're talking about hitting an elevation of 10,708 feet in Grand County. Fair warning: the road ain't paved. Think gravel, rocks, and a whole lotta bump-and-grind. This is a legit chairlift access trail, so conditions are always shifting. Basically, be prepared for a wild ride where a 4x4 is a MUST. This isn't your grandma's scenic drive, folks. Winter likes to hang around here for a loooong time, so your best bet for a safe trip is mid-summer. But hey, the views from the top? Totally worth the challenge!
hardWofford Lookout
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, road trip enthusiasts, let's talk about Wofford Lookout in New Mexico's Otero County! Perched way up high in the Lincoln National Forest, this spot sits at a dizzying 9,179 feet. Getting there is half the adventure. The road's a gravel and rocky beast that's best left untouched during winter. If you're not comfy with unpaved mountain roads, this might not be your cup of tea. Seriously, 4x4 is a must. And if heights make you queasy, maybe admire this one from afar, because the trail is STEEP. But trust me, the views are worth it! Plus, you'll be checking out a piece of history – the lookout tower was built back in '33. Get ready for some seriously amazing scenery!
moderateIs Badger Pass paved?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, road trip fans, listen up! Let's talk Badger Pass in Big Sky Country — Montana, specifically. Is it paved? You bet! Montana State Highway 278 will take you right through it, and the pavement's in pretty good shape. Expect some steep climbs; those ramps will give your engine a workout! This north-south route clocks in at around 60 miles, starting near Dillon, the heart of Beaverhead County. And the views? Oh man, the Pioneer Mountain Range is absolutely stunning! Seriously, you'll want to pull over and snap some pics.
extremeChute Canyon Road: Driving through the San Rafael Reef in Utah
🇺🇸 Usa
# Chute Canyon Road: Utah's Remote Desert Adventure Tucked deep in Emery County, Utah, Chute Canyon Road (CO 1016) is a wild backcountry drive that cuts right through the jaw-dropping limestone fins of the San Rafael Reef. If you're craving true isolation and geological drama, this route delivers in spades—it's a raw slice of the San Rafael Swell where you'll find incredible desert vistas mixed with echoes of Utah's boom-and-bust mining days. This route carves through central Utah's southern edge of the Swell, and the scenery is absolutely unreal. Picture this: you're cruising across flat desert one moment, and suddenly massive, tilted rock layers tower around you. The entire drive sits above 5,400 feet elevation, giving you that high-desert experience with deep canyons, sheer cliffs, and the kind of silence you only find on remote BLM land. Fair warning—this isn't a Sunday drive. The road is completely unpaved and wildly inconsistent. You'll navigate everything from deep sand to jagged rock and dry washes. After rain, the clay and sand transform into a slippery nightmare that'll stop even serious off-roaders cold. This is 4WD-high-clearance territory only. Your regular sedan won't stand a chance. The route spans just 6.3 miles but tops out at 5,807 feet, and the technical terrain means you'll be crawling. Plan for serious time, and honestly? Don't go solo. This is remote enough that you need to be completely self-sufficient—extra water, fuel, a full-size spare, and zero cell service means help could be hours or days away. What makes this drive historically fascinating is all the mining relics scattered throughout. The area started seeing prospectors in the late 1800s, but really exploded during the 1950s uranium boom. Those old mine shafts, rusted equipment, and tailing piles you'll spot? They're remnants of miners hunting "yellowcake" in brutal conditions. Here's where it gets serious: summer heat in this canyon can easily smash 100°F, with canyon walls bouncing heat right back at you. But the real danger? Flash floods. This road follows a natural drainage, so a storm miles away can send a roaring wall of water and debris through in minutes. Always check the forecast before heading in. Come prepared: bring at least a gallon of water per person daily, a shovel, and traction boards (Maxtrax are clutch). If you break down, stay with your vehicle—wandering the San Rafael Reef unprepared is how people get lost. And definitely air down your tires to avoid getting bogged in those sandy washes.