Baxter Pass: Ultimate 4wd Destination in Colorado
Usa, north-america
81 km
2,573 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Baxter Pass in Colorado! This beast of a mountain pass sits at a lofty 8,441 feet above sea level in Garfield County. You'll find it nestled on the route from Dragon, Utah, to Mack, Colorado.
Back in the day, a quirky railroad (the Uintah Railway) chugged up and over this pass, hauling gilsonite. Talk about niche! But with better roads and trucks, it sadly became a thing of the past in 1938.
Now, about the road itself: County Highway 201 (aka Baxter Pass Road) is *all* unpaved. Think hard-packed dirt, sand, the occasional bump, and rocks aplenty. Newbies, beware! Expect some seriously narrow sections and those thrilling (or terrifying!) drop-offs. There's even a short shelf road section on the south side to keep you on your toes. This is a wild, remote, and stunning corner of Colorado.
This epic dirt road stretches for about 50 miles from Mack, Colorado, all the way to the Utah border, just south of Dragon.
You can usually tackle this winding, steep trail from June to October, weather permitting. Keep an eye out for lingering snowdrifts!
Give yourself around 3 hours to conquer this remote road. Bonus: there are a few ghost towns to explore along the way. At the summit, you'll find a communication antenna.
Where is it?
Baxter Pass: Ultimate 4wd Destination in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 44.5016, -98.9505
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 81 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,573 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 44.5016, -98.9505
Related Roads in north-america
moderateHurricane Ridge Road is Washington's Best Driving Road
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, road-trippers, because Hurricane Ridge Road in Washington's Olympic National Park is calling your name! This 20-mile stretch of pure driving bliss climbs to a whopping 5,082 feet above sea level. Starting near Port Angeles, this totally paved beauty, sometimes called Heart o’the Hills Road, winds its way up into the heart of the Olympic Mountains. Think lush forests and breathtaking views – seriously, keep your camera handy! Give yourself around an hour to drive it straight through, but trust me, you'll want to stop and soak it all in. The road is steep, and you'll even pass through a few tunnels, making the journey super exciting. Now, a word of caution: Mother Nature rules up here! Always check the weather before you go. This area gets a TON of snow (over 400 inches a year!), and the road can close without warning. In winter, it's usually open weekends and holidays, but always double-check. Tire chains are a must in the winter months. As you climb nearly 5000 feet from Port Angeles, you'll see the plant life morph around you, a sign you're getting higher and higher. Get ready for some seriously epic scenery!
easyThe journey is the destination along the scenic Thousand Islands Parkway of Canada
🇨🇦 Canada
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Thousand Islands Parkway in Ontario, Canada, smack-dab in the middle of Montreal and Toronto and practically waving to the USA. This fully paved beauty, also known as the 1000 Islands Parkway, hugs the northern edge of the St. Lawrence River. We're talking a chill 40-kilometer (25-mile) stretch with a lane in each direction, running from Butternut Bay to Gananoque. You could breeze through it in like 35-45 minutes if you wanted to, but trust me, you won't. This road, built way back in 1938, is all about the views! Get ready for some seriously breathtaking panoramic landscapes – this parkway is a feast for the eyes!
hardNogal Peak
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Nogal Peak in southeastern New Mexico is calling your name! Nestled way up high in the Southern White Mountain Wilderness, you'll find this bad boy topping out at a whopping 8,809 feet! But here's the deal: this isn't your Sunday drive. Forest Road 108, aka Tanbark Canyon Road, is a gravelly, rocky, and bumpy beast. Think tippy! We're talking about a serious 4x4 situation, people. This road, deep inside the Lincoln National Forest, is constantly changing, so expect the unexpected. Winter likes to hang around here for a while, so your best bet for a safe trip is mid-summer. The road is a never-ending series of twists, turns, and narrow squeezes that'll test your driving skills. Steep, rough, and dirt, it keeps you on your toes the whole time. Up, down, right, left – you get the picture! But trust me, once you reach the summit and that Crest Trailhead parking lot, those views are worth every single bump and jostle!
moderateArizona Snowbowl is one of the highest roads of Arizona
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, road trip fans, listen up! Let's talk Arizona Snowbowl, a ski resort perched way up high in Coconino County. We're talking serious altitude here—9,553 feet above sea level! This place is nestled in the Coconino National Forest, just a hop, skip, and a jump—12 miles, to be exact—outside of Flagstaff in north-central Arizona. You'll find this gem clinging to the western side of Mount Humphreys in the San Francisco Peaks. The road? All paved, baby! It's called Snow Bowl Road, and it's ready for you. Now, heads up: this climb is no joke. Snow Bowl Road throws some serious 11% gradients at you. Starting from Highway 180, you've got a 7-mile push to the top, gaining a whopping 2,200 feet along the way. That works out to an average gradient of around 6%, so get ready for some switchbacks! But trust me, the views are SO worth it.