Glacier Peak, an old mine road to the summit
Usa, north-america
4.5 km
3,917 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, Glacier Peak! This Colorado climb tops out at a whopping 12,851 feet, straddling Summit and Jefferson counties. We're talking high, people - one of the loftiest drives in the state!
Tucked away in the Front Range of the Rockies, right on the edge of Arapaho and Pike National Forests, this old mine road (aka Montezuma Road) is a wild ride. It's a 2.8-mile bumpy crawl to the top, and you'll gain 1,253 feet along the way. Think mud, rocks, and some serious off-road conditions. You'll definitely want an OHV or SUV with good clearance for this one! The average grade is about 8.5%, so be prepared for some steep sections.
Summer is your window of opportunity here, as things can get dicey in the spring with a super soggy patch up north. The views? Totally worth it, with pines, aspen groves, alpine meadows, and wide-open panoramas galore. Just make sure your gear is ready for a beating – it's a long, rough trip to get to those summit views! Plus, there's another road heading east from the pass that takes you even higher!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 4.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,917 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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