Conquer the Thrilling Road to Elwood Pass in Colorado's San Juan Mountains
Usa, north-america
28.8 km
3,559 m
extreme
Year-round
Elwood Pass, nestled high in Colorado's Rio Grande County, is a must-do for adventure seekers! This beast of a pass tops out at 11,676 feet within the Rio Grande National Forest.
Starting from Highway 160, East Fork Road (FS 667) throws you straight into 17.9 miles of unpaved glory. Get ready for some serious climbing – some sections max out at a wild 20% grade! You'll gain 4,376 feet in elevation, averaging about 4.63%.
The scenery in the San Juan Mountains is breathtaking, but don't get too distracted! This route is impassable in winter and can be treacherous any time of year, with narrow sections and steep drop-offs. A short trail near the summit even leads to Summit Pass at 11,801 feet!
The first 8 miles from the highway are fairly tame, a two-lane gravel road suitable for most vehicles, following the river through a rocky canyon. Near Silver Falls, watch out for a dip that might challenge the ground clearance of lower cars.
The real fun begins about 10 miles in, at the turn to Quartz Creek. This is where the loose rocks and water crossings demand a 4x4 with high clearance. Lock those axles, shift into low gear, and take it slow. The road is carved into near-vertical rock walls with massive drop-offs, so be careful, especially when it's wet. Spring runoff can make the river crossings deep and swift, and summer rains can turn the road muddy and slick.
Where is it?
Conquer the Thrilling Road to Elwood Pass in Colorado's San Juan Mountains is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 42.4995, -96.3729
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 28.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,559 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 42.4995, -96.3729
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