Driving the Rough 4x4 Road to the Lookout at Mara Mountain in BC

Driving the Rough 4x4 Road to the Lookout at Mara Mountain in BC

Canada, north-america

Length

31.9 km

Elevation

2,249 m

Difficulty

extreme

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! You HAVE to check out Mara Mountain in British Columbia, Canada. This peak, also known as Morton Peak, is way up there at 2,249m (that’s a whopping 7,378ft!). Seriously, it’s one of the highest roads in the whole country.

Nestled in the Regional District of North Okanagan, a bumpy ride up Mt. Mara Road will lead you to the Mara Mountain Fire Lookout. The views from up here? Insane. Like you're on top of the world!

Now, a word of warning: this isn’t your Sunday drive kind of road. Mt. Mara Road is a completely unpaved, seriously rough, and seriously steep track. We’re talking six super-tight hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills, plus a narrow shelf road and some mega steep hills. The first few kilometers are doable, but trust me, it gets wilder. A high-clearance vehicle is a must, and honestly, you'll probably want a rugged 4WD beast for the final push. The last stretch is even steeper and the ground gets really loose.

Starting near Kingfisher, the road climbs a massive 1,932m over 31.9 km (almost 20 miles!), averaging a 6% gradient. And keep in mind, because it's high up in the Hunters Range, snow can keep the road closed well into August! But trust me, when it’s open, this drive is epic!

Where is it?

Driving the Rough 4x4 Road to the Lookout at Mara Mountain in BC is located in Canada (north-america). Coordinates: 55.9253, -105.8646

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Road Details

Country
Canada
Continent
north-america
Length
31.9 km
Max Elevation
2,249 m
Difficulty
extreme
Coordinates
55.9253, -105.8646

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