Driving the rough 4×4 road to Argentine Pass in Colorado

Driving the rough 4×4 road to Argentine Pass in Colorado

Usa, north-america

Length

12.71 km

Elevation

4,034 m

Difficulty

extreme

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up, adventurers! We're headed to Argentine Pass, clocking in at a whopping 13,234 feet above sea level in the heart of Colorado! You'll find this bad boy straddling Clear Creek and Summit counties, nestled in the White River National Forest.

Originally a wagon road from way back in 1867, this route (aka County Road 352) stretches for about 7.9 miles from Guanella Pass Road. Forget pavement – it's all about that rugged, unadulterated 4x4 experience here.

Speaking of 4x4, you'll NEED a high-clearance vehicle. Think narrow paths, seriously steep climbs, hairpin turns galore, and rocks, rocks, rocks! We're talking moderate difficulty with a few stream crossings thrown in to keep things interesting. Oversized vehicles should definitely sit this one out.

Keep in mind this is a summer-only adventure. Snow can linger well into the season, so plan accordingly. You can only drive to the pass from the Georgetown side, the other side (Horseshoe Basin) is strictly for hikers and bikers.

The payoff? OMG, the VIEWS! And plenty of parking at the top. Don’t miss the Santiago Mine and Ghost Town (but be respectful, it's private property!). Gaze north for killer views of Grays & Torreys Peaks. On the way back, enjoy the fast and furious ride and amazing views of Peru Creek.

Just a heads up, the climb is real. You're gaining over 3,600 feet from Guanella Pass Road. That's an average gradient of almost 9%! But trust me, the panoramic vistas from the Continental Divide are worth every bump and grind.

Where is it?

Driving the rough 4×4 road to Argentine Pass in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 39.9913, -95.3328

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
12.71 km
Max Elevation
4,034 m
Difficulty
extreme
Coordinates
39.9913, -95.3328

Related Roads in north-america

Is the road to Puerto Cancún unpaved?moderate

Is the road to Puerto Cancún unpaved?

🇲🇽 Mexico

Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Baja California Peninsula, heading towards the Pacific coast. You veer off the main paved highway near Las Brisas del Desierto restaurant, and BAM! You're on Carretera a Puerto Cancún, a 45.8 km (28 mile) dirt and gravel road that leads to the tiny fishing village of Puerto Cancún. For most of its length – a whopping 41.7 km – it's straight as an arrow, letting you soak in the incredible mountain views. As you get closer to the coast, the road gets a little sandy, so keep your eyes peeled! Also, watch out for cows chilling on the road – seriously! This route isn't about speed; it's about soaking up the raw, untamed beauty of Baja.

How long is the Princeton Summerland Road?easy

How long is the Princeton Summerland Road?

🇨🇦 Canada

Princeton Summerland Road is a very scenic drive located in British Columbia, Canada. It’s a good ride with some nice corners and scenery. How long is the Princeton Summerland Road? The road is 93.2 km (57.91 miles) long, running west-east from Princeton (in the Similkameen region of southern British Columbia) to Summerland (on the west side of Okanagan Lake in the interior of British Columbia). The road is locally known as the Five-Mile at the Princeton end. Is the Princeton Summerland Road paved? About 60 km of the road is paved; the rest is packed gravel of varying condition with some rough sections. It’s a kinder, gentler backroad experience. The drive features steep sections, topping out at 1,120m (3,674ft) above sea level. The area is prone to mudslides and washouts. How long does it take to drive the Princeton Summerland Road? To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 1.5 and 2 hours. This road follows the route of the Kettle Valley Railway and offers jaw-dropping views, unparalleled freedom, and lots of fresh air. It has amazing scenery along the way. Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road closed permanently on April 2017 Fort Chipewyan Winter Road crosses breathtaking landscapes in Alberta 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.

A Comprehensive Travel Guide to Hailstone Butte in Albertahard

A Comprehensive Travel Guide to Hailstone Butte in Alberta

🇨🇦 Canada

Okay, buckle up for a trip to Hailstone Butte, a real hidden gem way up in Alberta, Canada! This peak soars to 2,326m (7,631ft), making it one of the highest drives you can find in the country. Locals just call it "the hump," and you'll find it nestled in the Highwood region of Kananaskis, right inside the Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve. The summit's home to a fire lookout tower — apparently, the most southern one in Kananaskis Country! They've had a few iterations up there, and let's just say the wind is no joke. Trust me, you'll want to dress in layers because things can change fast at that altitude. Oh, and a word to the wise: keep your furry friends away from the lakes up there, as they might have some algae that's not good for them. The drive itself? You'll hop off Highway 22 and onto a well-maintained gravel road that twists and turns its way to the top. Get ready for some steep switchbacks, but the views? Totally worth it! Just a heads up, the road gets a little rougher as you climb, with some washboard sections and rocks to dodge. Watch out for logging trucks, mountain sheep, and blind corners! The road is typically closed from December to the end of April due to snow, and keep in mind that the weather can change in a heartbeat, and afternoons can get super windy!

Where is Corkscrew Pass?moderate

Where is Corkscrew Pass?

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, picture this: you're in southwestern Colorado, deep in the Uncompahgre National Forest, ready for an off-road adventure. You're about to tackle Corkscrew Pass! This baby clocks in at about 5 miles (8km) long, and it's not for the faint of heart. We're talking a climb up to a whopping 12,244 feet (3,732m) above sea level! You'll need a short-wheelbase 4x4 with high clearance to make it. This ain’t a Sunday drive in your sedan! This used to be a rough trail built back in the early 1880s to connect Silverton to the mines on Red Mountain. The road, known as Corkscrew Gulch Trail, is mostly unpaved and includes County Road 20A and County Road 11. The road is wide and graded most of the way but it gets steep and rough with some super-tight switchbacks—especially near the top! Be extra cautious because one wrong move could send you tumbling down a cliff. It's usually dry and easy, but after it rains, the clay soil turns super slick, making things much trickier. Keep an eye out for logging trucks at the lower part of the trail. The pass is usually snowed in from November to June. But trust me, the views are WORTH IT! You'll get an incredible bird's-eye view of Como Lake. This route is incredibly scenic, with a fantastic perspective of nature's flora and fauna. In the fall, the aspen trees in the Ironton valley turn the landscape into a golden paradise. Be prepared for company, it’s a popular trail. Bring your camera, because you'll want to capture every moment of this epic journey!