Highest paved roads in the USA
Usa, north-america
3.2 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Beartooth Highway (US 212) right at the Wyoming state line. This isn't just any drive; it's an experience! You're tackling serious elevation, so expect some thinner air. The road winds and climbs, but the views? Absolutely epic! Think wide-open skies and a real sense of being on top of the world. Keep an eye on the weather, though – mountain conditions can change in a heartbeat.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 3.2 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
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extremeThe Engineering of Kicking Horse Pass
🇨🇦 Canada
All aboard for a wild ride through the Canadian Rockies! The railway lines here are seriously impressive feats of engineering, mainly thanks to Canadian Pacific (CP) and Canadian National (CN). These tracks slice right through the Continental Divide, battling some crazy steep gradients and seriously unstable ground. We're talking about conquering Kicking Horse Pass (1,627m) and Yellowhead Pass (1,131m), with insane features like the Spiral Tunnels, Stoney Creek Bridge, and the notorious Hell's Gate. The Kicking Horse Pass is the real MVP. Originally, the "Big Hill" section was a total nightmare with a super-steep gradient that caused constant derailments. Enter the Spiral Tunnels in 1909 – pure genius! These tunnels loop inside Cathedral Mountain and Mt. Ogden, doubling the track length and dropping the gradient to a much more manageable 2.2%. Then there's the Fraser Canyon, a dramatic gorge carved by the Fraser River. The railway clings to the canyon walls, squeezing through Hell's Gate where the canyon narrows dramatically. Landslides are a real threat here, so constant monitoring is a must. These rail lines play nice with the region's high-altitude roads, particularly near Lake Louise and Jasper along Highway 93. While the railway hugs the valley floors to maintain that gentle 2.2% gradient, Highway 93 climbs higher to tackle Sunwapta Pass. Both rail and road face the same hazards: avalanches and permafrost issues. Don't miss the bridges! The Stoney Creek Bridge is a 148-meter long steel arch soaring 91 meters above the creek – one of the highest railway bridges in North America. Near Lytton, the CP and CN tracks pull a cool criss-cross move over the river on two massive bridges. Finally, the Continental Divide crossings! Yellowhead Pass, used by the Jasper route, is the lowest pass in the Rockies, making for a gentler climb. And keep an eye out for Mount Robson (3,954m), the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
hardHow To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Levette Lake in BC
🇨🇦 Canada
Okay, picture this: Levette Lake. A dazzling blue gem hidden amongst the towering trees of the Squamish-Lillooet region in British Columbia, Canada. Just north of Squamish, nestled in the massive Squamish Valley, you'll find this beauty. The journey? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart! You'll start on paved roads, but after Evans Lake, things get real. We're talking Levette Lake Forestry Road: rough, steep, and narrow. Keep an eye out for local residents, too – black bears sometimes call this area home, so closures can happen. From Paradise Valley, it’s a short 4.5km (2.79 miles) to the lake, but those miles pack a punch! The views of the Tantalus Range Mountains are incredible. Be warned, parking is limited, so plan accordingly. Definitely bring your 4x4 with high clearance. This road throws loose boulders, potholes galore, and the occasional manageable washout your way. The last half can be particularly gnarly, especially later in the summer. It's an adventure!
moderateWhere is Cortes Pass in Mexico?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! You HAVE to check out Paso de Cortés, nestled high in the Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park between the Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl volcanoes, just southeast of Mexico City. This place is epic! The road, also called Tlamacaxco, winds its way up, up, up to a whopping 3,692m (12,112ft). Think seriously steep, seriously twisty, and surrounded by lush trees – the kind of climb that gets your heart pumping. It's all paved, so no worries there, but prepare for a bit of a trek. The whole pass stretches about 43.7 km (27.15 miles) from Amecameca de Juárez (Mexico State) to San Nicolás de Los Ranchos (Puebla). Budget around 1.5 to 2 hours to soak it all in (without stopping). When you finally hit the summit, you'll find a big parking lot, a much-needed bar (cheers to that!), and an info center. It's also the jumping-off point for the climb to Estación de Altura Altzomoni, a weather station way up at 3,985m (13,074ft). Basically, unreal views for days. Just remember to pack your camera and maybe some altitude sickness meds!
hardHow do you get to Punta Allen?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, so you wanna get to Punta Allen, the chillest village at the end of the Boca Paila Peninsula in Quintana Roo? Get ready for QROO 15, a coastal road that's more of an adventure than a highway. It's about 53 km (33 miles) from Tulum, running along the Caribbean coast, taking you right to the edge of paradise and the entrance to Bahía de la Ascensión. Fair warning: this road, also known as Javier Rojo Gómez, is *unpaved*. Think narrow, think jungle, think Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve vibes. If it's dry, you'll dodge potholes – not too bad. But watch out for those sneaky *topes* (speed bumps)! They can be brutal. The southern half, especially after the Boca Paila bridge, is where things get real. You might need some off-road skills to avoid sinking in the sand. Leave the low-rider at home; you'll want an SUV for this trek. Keep your eyes peeled for potholes and remember if it's been raining, the road can become one with the beach – easy to get stuck without 4WD. No lanes here, just weaving around potholes and watching for oncoming traffic. The speed limit is 40 km/h, and trust me, you'll want to stick to it for the animals' sake! This area is remote – seriously remote. Fill up your tank in Tulum; there's no gas in Punta Allen. Electricity is patchy, and ATMs and internet are non-existent. Aim to finish the 2-3 hour drive before sunset, 'cause you're heading back the same way. But is it worth it? Absolutely. Take your time! There are tons of spots to pull over and enjoy deserted beaches and rocky coastline. Keep an eye out for crocodiles on the first lagoon bridge. You'll see lizards, iguanas, crabs, birds – a whole wildlife parade. Once you reach Punta Allen, you'll understand why the journey is part of the magic. Think pristine white sand beaches and emerald waters stretching as far as you can see – pure paradise!