
Blue Lake
Usa, north-america
N/A
3,728 m
hard
Year-round
Blue Lake is an alpine lake at an elevation of 3.728m (12,230ft) above the sea level, located in San Miguel County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s
one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
The narrow road to the summit, located in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times. The road is usually impassable from October to June (weather permitting). It’s an old mining road. Along the way the trail passes historic mining structures including the remains of an old tram, mining cabins and a bunkhouse. Nestled in a glacial cirque, it’s a great trail for experienced wheelers. Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. 4x4 vehicle required. Stay away if you're scared of heights. Expect a trail pretty steep. Conditions can change rapidly, be careful of the weather. Access through snow can change daily.
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Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 3,728 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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