Everything you need to know about the Soldier Summit in Utah
Usa, north-america
68.87 km
2,284 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk Soldier Summit! This beauty sits way up in Utah, clocking in at 7,493 feet above sea level. You'll find it smack-dab on the line between Utah and Wasatch counties, in the eastern part of the state.
Fun fact: the name comes from some Confederate soldiers who got caught in a surprise summer snowstorm back in '61 – yikes!
The road itself is US-6, a fully paved path stretching for about 43 miles. You'll cruise from the ghost town of Thistle, nestled in Spanish Fork Canyon, all the way to another ghost town, Castle Gate.
Expect stunning Wasatch Mountain views along the way! The road is mostly mellow, with just a few ramps hitting a max of 5% gradient. At the top, you'll find yet another ghost town (seriously!) and a handy gas station. Keep in mind this road is usually open year-round, but winter weather can sometimes shut it down for short periods, so check conditions before you go!
Where is it?
Everything you need to know about the Soldier Summit in Utah is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 42.6867, -98.9049
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 68.87 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,284 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 42.6867, -98.9049
Related Roads in north-america
moderateThe historic Old Plank Road in California was built in 1915
🇺🇸 Usa
Ever heard of a road made of wood? Deep in California's Imperial County, near the border with Mexico, lies the remains of the Old Plank Road, a seriously cool piece of early 20th-century ingenuity. Back in 1915, this eight-mile stretch was built right across the shifting sands of the Algodones Dunes, a landscape that looks like it belongs in the Sahara! Imagine driving on wooden planks, laid end-to-end like a primitive roadway. It was a single lane, so turnouts were added every mile so cars could pass each other. They called it a success, though it was hard work to keep the sand off the road. Mules were brought in to dust the planks off or even move sections of the road! This quirky road made it possible to travel between San Diego and Yuma, Arizona. About 3,000 vehicles a week traveled across the "railroad track for cars" Sadly, the plank road's reign didn't last. The harsh desert and shifting sands took their toll, and by the late 1920s, it was replaced with asphalt. Today, only fragments remain, a historic landmark and reminder of a time when a wooden road was the only way to cross these majestic dunes. The region of towering dunes resembles the Sahara desert and has been featured in films ranging from Rudolph Valentino's “The Sheik” to 1983's “Return of the Jedi”.
hardPearl Pass is one of the last roads to open in Colorado
🇺🇸 Usa
Pearl Pass: Colorado's High-Altitude Adventure! Located high in the heart of Colorado, this pass hits an elevation of 12,723 feet (3,878m), making it one of the state's highest roads. You'll find it straddling Pitkin and Gunnison counties, deep in eastern Colorado. Pearl Pass Road (#102) isn't paved – it's a 16.9-mile (27.19km) stretch of rugged, unadulterated off-road heaven. Once an old mining route linking Crested Butte and Aspen, it's now a thrilling 4x4 trail. This isn't a drive for the faint of heart. You'll need a serious 4x4 to tackle the boulder fields, steep climbs, water crossings, and narrow shelf roads. Expect some seriously rough patches, including a half-mile stretch with a grade of over 25%! Buckle up tight for those rocky, rollercoaster sections. Once you're over the pass, the route mellows out, save for a marshy area. It's got fewer obstacles than some CO trails, but the rocks, rock slides, and scenery are epic. Speaking of scenery, the Rocky Mountain views are unbeatable, with diverse landscapes around every bend. The pass crosses the Continental Divide. Be warned: snow often lingers into late July, and sometimes the pass doesn't fully open at all. It’s usually only passable for a few weeks in late summer, and heavy snow years can block the summit completely. Snow and ice are common at higher elevations well into summer. Give yourself 5-6 hours to soak it all in. Tucked within Gunnison National Forest between Aspen and Crested Butte, Pearl Pass is a truly unforgettable Colorado adventure.
easyHow long is US Highway 50?
🇺🇸 Usa
U.S. Route 50 is the name of a major road in the USA. It runs through mostly rural areas in the western part of the country and includes the section through Nevada known as The Loneliest Road in America. How long is US Highway 50? The road is totally paved. It’s 3,000 miles (4,800 km) long. The road was created in 1926. US Highway 50 wasn’t built overnight. The history of US Highway 50 starts almost two hundred years ago. There were no established trails other than pathways left by the Native Americans. Where does US Highway 50 start and end? The road runs east-west from Ocean City (in Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean) to West Sacramento (in California, on the Pacific Ocean) through mostly rural desert and mountains. It passes through a dozen different states (California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland) as well as the District of Columbia) and four state capitals, as well as the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Running coast-to-coast through the heart of America on a 3,000-mile odyssey from sea to shining sea, US-50 From the Atlantic to the Pacific, is how one often describes the coast to coast trip across the United States. Why is Highway 50 called The Loneliest Road in America? The section across Nevada is known as “The Loneliest Road in America”, with few or no signs of civilization along many parts. In Nevada, US 50 crosses several mountain ranges using 17 passes and one tunnel. The road tops out at at an elevation of 7,729 feet (2.356m) above the sea level. There is a stunning absence of people across hundreds of miles of sandy, rocky terrain. The Nevada portion of the route, evokes the feeling of loneliness. You find miles and miles of little more than mountains, sand, hundreds of timeworn small towns, and blue sky. US-50 crosses more than 400 miles of Nevada’s countryside, climbing up mountain ranges while passing through four mining towns and the capital, Carson City. You can still find some old gas stations, motor courts and diners hidden between newer buildings and businesses – a glimpse to another time in America’s past. It runs through mostly rural areas in the western part of the United States. Piilani Highway is a road with bad reputation in Hawaii Mattole Road is a Lost Coastal Scenic Drive in California 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.
extreme¿Why Did Drivers Once Fear the Mexico 101 Route So Much?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Mexico 101: The Old Road Between San Luis Potosí and Ciudad Victoria Okay, road trippers, let's talk Mexico 101! This is the OG route connecting San Luis Potosí and Ciudad Victoria, the way folks traveled *before* there was a shiny new bypass. Now, back in the day, this road had a reputation. Not for its breathtaking scenery, mind you, but for being a bit of a beast – twisty, narrow, and a touch accident-prone. Some truckers even took a *massive* detour just to avoid it! So, what's it like now? Well, in 2008, they built a fancy new bypass (Tamaulipas state highway 126). And things got a whole lot safer. Most people zip between the cities on that now, leaving the old 101 a bit forgotten. But here's the thing: the new route *is* scenic! Think classic Mexican road trip vibes. You'll cruise through semi-desert landscapes with killer views of the northern Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains. But don't get *too* relaxed! It's still got some serious hairpin turns and long, steep descents as you climb from Victoria (a measly 320 meters above sea level) to a mountain pass topping out at 1,520 meters! So, is the old Mexico 101 worth a drive? If you're all about speed and safety, stick to the bypass. But if you're a history buff, an engineering geek, or just love a challenging mountain road with a story to tell, the old 101 is a unique experience. It's a stark reminder of what driving in Mexico used to be like!