County Road 861
Usa, north-america
7.72 km
2.76 m
hard
Year-round
County Road 861 is a very scenic high mountain road located in the San Juan Mountains, Gunnison County, in the U.S. State of Colorado. The road runs entirely over 2.760m above the sea level.
It’s unpaved with some very narrow sections, totally impassable for 2 cars at the same time. The trail is 7.72km (4.8 miles) long. 4x4 vehicle required. The road is not plowed in winters. Its highest elevation is at 3.092m (10,144ft) above the sea level. The road offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. The area is notorious for severe thunderstorms and lightning on summer afternoons. Conditions can quickly change and become dangerous.
Risk Management: Staying Safe on High-Fatality and Technical Roads
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.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 7.72 km
- Max Elevation
- 2.76 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in north-america
hardIs there a road up Mt. Whitney?
🇺🇸 Usa
Whitney Portal Road is a short but spectacular drive that takes you about halfway up Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States, in Inyo County, in the US state of California. Is there a road up Mt. Whitney? Tucked away in the eastern central part of California, the road is 19.31km (12 miles) long, starting at Lone Pine. It’s totally paved. The road connects Lone Pine to Whitney Portal (the Whitney Portal Store is at the Portal, and the store is open in the summer). Is the road to Whitney Portal open? Set high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Whitney Portal Road usually opens sometime in early May, with the first major winter storm shutting it down sometime in November, meaning it is not maintained or cleared of snow. However, it is not physically barred, and climbers routinely drive as far as conditions will allow. The road is not gated or otherwise physically blocked; call the Inyo National Forest for information. Weather and road conditions can change in an instant. Can you see Mount Whitney from the road? The road ends at 2,557m (8,389ft) above sea level at Whitney Portal, where there is a close view of Mount Whitney. When was Whitney Portal Road in California built? The road to the summit was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. How long does it take to drive Whitney Portal Road in California? To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 25 and 35 minutes. The drive features sweeping views. It twists and turns through an otherworldly landscape known as the Alabama Hills, a set of bizarrely constructed rock piles, before setting on a fairly straight shot for the foothills of Mount Whitney. Alabama Hills are the scene of literally hundreds of cowboy films, but the road has a film history, too. The steep, sharp switchbacks along the Whitney Portal Road were prominent in scenes in the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz film "The Long, Long Trailer," in which Lucy surreptitiously fills a travel trailer with her rock collection until it’s too heavy to ascend the grade. The road is also featured in the 1941 classic, "High Sierra," starring Humphrey Bogart. The vistas change dramatically as you draw closer to the mountains, seeming more and more massive until suddenly they overwhelm you, and you're a part of them, looking back down on the road, the hills, and the Owens Valley. In other words, there's plenty of time to think about what you're getting yourself into. Is Whitney Portal Road in California challenging? This route is paved but narrow, steep, and winding with dramatic switchbacks. There is a risk of rock slides on the way up. It’s very steep, with some 14% gradients. It is a great and difficult climb out of the high desert up towards Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48. The road has some narrow parts and blind corners. Like most eastern Sierra ascents, this one starts out tame and ends up tough. The grade generally increases as you climb so that a five-mile stretch in the 2nd half averages 9%. The hill lets up just before the finish at Whitney Portal and a parking/hiking area (trailhead to Mt. Whitney). Whitney Portal is also very similar to the famed French climb of The narrow road to Schofield Pass in Colorado is for experienced drivers only The creepy story of Sensabaugh Tunnel in Tennessee 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.
hardIs the road to Baru Volcano unpaved?
🌍 Panama
Okay, adventure time! Let's talk about the road to Volcán Barú in Panama's Chiriquí Province. This dormant volcano sits way up high at 3,474m (11,398ft). The trek up, starting from David, is about 58.8km (36.53 miles) of mostly unpaved, rugged terrain. Seriously, you'll need a 4x4 for this one! It's called Volcancito Road or Camino Volcán Barú. Get ready for some serious twists and turns; this road will definitely test your driving skills (and your nerves!). The pavement gives way to a rough dirt track that climbs almost all the way to the summit. Why bother with the white-knuckle drive? Well, on a clear day, you can see *both* the Pacific Ocean *and* the Caribbean Sea from the top – how epic is that?! Just a heads up, the summit is covered in antennas, and it gets seriously cold. We're talking below freezing with possible frost, so pack accordingly! And yeah, this is a volcano, but it's been snoozing since around 1550 AD, so you're (probably) good.
moderateWhere is El Capulín?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Alright, adventurers, listen up! I've found a road that'll take your breath away - literally! We're heading to El Capulín, snuggled right on the edge of Morelos and Mexico City, deep in the heart of the country. This isn't just any drive; we're talking about one of the highest roads in the nation, topping out at a cool 3,627m (11,899ft) above sea level inside the beautiful Cumbres del Ajusco National Park. You'll be cruising the Xalatlaco-El Ajusco road for about 11.6 km (7.20 miles) until you arrive to the famous church. Word to the wise: keep an eye on the weather. Low visibility can make this road a bit tricky. But with clear skies? Get ready for some seriously stunning views!
moderateHow to get by car to Matienda Lake in the Northern Ontario region?
🇨🇦 Canada
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Northern Ontario, heading to the secluded paradise of Matienda Lake. This massive, pristine lake is tucked away in Matinenda Provincial Park, practically begging you to cast a line for Lake Trout or Smallmouth Bass. Finding it is a breeze! Just head north from Blind River, a cute town on Lake Huron's North Channel. The road, ON-557, stretches for about 22.4 km (13.9 miles) and is completely paved and in great shape, winding you through the heart of Algoma's gorgeous forests. A heads-up though: parts of the road hug the water’s edge pretty closely, so if you're not a fan of lakeside drives, maybe this one isn't for you. Otherwise, get ready for some killer views! And don’t worry about parking, there’s a big lot waiting for you at the end of the road, ready for your adventure. Matienda Lake isn't just about fishing, there's hiking trails, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming spots around nearby lakes. Time to explore!