Cochetopa Pass is an unforgettable road in Colorado

Cochetopa Pass is an unforgettable road in Colorado

Usa, north-america

Length

42.32 km

Elevation

3,076 m

Difficulty

easy

Best Season

Year-round

Alright, road trip enthusiasts, listen up! I've got a gem for you: Cochetopa Pass in sunny Colorado! This beauty sits way up high at 10,091 feet in Saguache County, right on the Continental Divide where the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests meet.

Cochetopa means "Pass of the Buffalo" in the Ute language, and this route's been around since 1858! Talk about history!

You'll be cruising along Saguache County Road NN14, aka Cochetopa Pass Road. Don't worry, it's a well-maintained gravel road, so your average car can handle it. Seriously, no crazy off-roading skills needed here. Just you, your car, and mile after mile of stunning national forest views.

The road stretches for about 26.3 miles, all the way from State Highway 114 to State Highway 114. Expect gentle slopes and a decent width, making for a relaxing drive. Fun fact: there's a slightly higher pass nearby called North Pass (or North Cochetopa Pass) if you're feeling extra adventurous!

Heads up, though: this road is usually snowed in from October to June. So plan your trip accordingly!

Where is it?

Cochetopa Pass is an unforgettable road in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 38.4547, -97.3071

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
42.32 km
Max Elevation
3,076 m
Difficulty
easy
Coordinates
38.4547, -97.3071

Related Roads in north-america

North Fork Clear Creek Trailmoderate

North Fork Clear Creek Trail

🇺🇸 Usa

North Fork Clear Creek Trail (Forest Road 390A) is a very scenic journey located in the heart of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. This is a winding high mountain road climbing up to 3.289m (10,790ft) above the sea level. Located in the Gunnison National Forest, the trail goes up a beautiful wide open alpine valley with magnificent views of the surrounding peaks. It’s narrow and likely to have some potholes. Because of heavy use, this road is often washboarded badly. 4x4 vehicle with good clearance is recommended. The road is blocked by the snow from October to June. How to drive the Sterling Highway in Alaska? 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.

Can you drive the Piilani Highway in Maui?hard

Can you drive the Piilani Highway in Maui?

🇺🇸 Usa

Pi'ilani Highway is a must-drive. Located in Maui, the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands, in the USA, this highway loops all the way around the southern coast of the island. The road is rough and unpaved at times. Be sure to honk around blind corners. Can you drive the Piilani Highway in Maui? The road (Hawaii Route 31) is 61 km (38 miles) long, running from Kipahulu to Ulupalakua. It’s a twisty, up-and-down roller coaster. The toughest section of the road is about 10 km (6 miles) long, where the road sometimes narrows to a single lane in sharp bends. In some areas, such as at Lelekea Bay, it's just a one-and-a-half-lane bumpy road hugging the sea cliff around a blind curve. Fences have been installed on the mountain here to prevent rocks from falling onto cars. The hairpin bends are completely blind, but there is almost no traffic. Occasionally the road is closed to traffic due to landslides. Although it is somewhat rough in places, it is by no means a daunting or particularly dangerous road if taken slowly. Traffic is light. Is Maui Highway 31 paved? The road is mostly paved, with a few sections of gravel or dirt, without too many holes. Four-wheel drive is not necessary. It’s not a gravel road; instead, it looks more like a very old paved road that’s been patched over and over and over again with asphalt. Is the Piilani Highway in Maui safe? It’s not an easy drive as it’s unpaved in sections, rough, and rugged in spots. Some parts are washboard-like and require speeds of 5 mph (8 km/h) or less to avoid damaging the suspension of a rental car. Most major rental car contracts forbid driving this section. This prohibition in rental car contracts seems more related to the remoteness of this section of highways. Avoid driving the road during or after heavy rainfall. Sometimes vehicles can get stuck on the unpaved stretches (especially after rains on those stretches or upslope on the Haleakala volcano), or the road is closed for other reasons. Is the Piilani Highway worth it? Running through the southern coast of Maui, the drive, also known as the back road to Hana, is very scenic, with stunning views of the astonishing shoreline. Along the way, you’ll discover lovely beach colors, amazing natural sceneries, and the majestic Pacific Ocean. The drive offers great views of pebble beaches, sea cliffs, and the undeveloped coastline. The area is probably the least visited part of the island, and yet it is one of the wildest. Katy Freeway in Texas is one of the widest highways in the world US Highway 50 is the Loneliest Highway In America 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.

Chinook Pass is a premier drive in Washingtoneasy

Chinook Pass is a premier drive in Washington

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: you're cruising along Chinook Pass in Washington State, a sweet little mountain pass sitting pretty at 5,430 feet. We're talking Yakima County, between the towns of Enumclaw and Naches, right in the heart of the Cascade Range. This totally paved, two-lane ribbon of road—officially known as SR 410, Chinook Scenic Byway, and Stephen Mather Memorial Parkway—hugs the northeast side of majestic Mount Rainier. Completed back in '31, this road is a pure driving joy with twists and turns galore. Five miles east of Cayuse Pass, Chinook Pass marks the eastern gateway to Mount Rainier National Park. Get ready for jaw-dropping views: we're talking Mount Rainier in all its glory, lush forests, sky-high peaks, rugged ridges, and dramatic river canyons. Because commercial vehicles aren't allowed within the park section, it’s a fave for summer road trippers like us. Just a heads-up: Chinook Pass usually shuts down around mid-November and aims to reopen by Memorial Day weekend. But Mother Nature calls the shots, so it all depends on the winter snowfall and spring conditions. The pass closes due to avalanche risks, tricky road conditions, limited space for snow storage, and the lack of nearby emergency services.

Road trip guide: Conquering Up Up Lookout in MTmoderate

Road trip guide: Conquering Up Up Lookout in MT

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: You're cruising through Montana's Bitterroot Mountains, heading toward the Up Up Lookout. This isn't your average Sunday drive; the pavement ends near De Borgia, and the next 11.2 miles are all dirt! We're talking a rough and tumble climb to 5,918 feet, so your trusty 4x4 with good clearance will be your best friend. Keep an eye on the weather, though – conditions can change quickly, and the gate near the top might be locked. Once you make it, you'll be rewarded with incredible views from the 40-foot wooden fire lookout, built way back in the 1930s. Trust me, the Lolo National Forest scenery is worth the bumpy ride!