How Long is the Powderface Trail?
Canada, north-america
34 km
1,854 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! The Powderface Trail in Alberta's Kananaskis Country is calling your name. This isn't just a drive; it's a full-on immersion into the wild heart of Canada.
Clocking in at 34 km (21 miles), this beauty snakes north-south, connecting Highway 68 (Sibbald Creek Trail) to AB-66. Think creeks babbling beside you, towering evergreens creating a shadowy canopy, and landscapes so secluded you'll feel like you're the only person on Earth. Most vehicles can handle it, but be warned: some sections get a bit narrow and steep, adding to the thrill.
Word to the wise: this isn't your average Sunday drive. The gravel road is maintained, but it's twisty, turny, and can feel like a rollercoaster at times. Parts of it can erode too, so keep your eyes peeled. And ditch the phone because you'll be off-grid. Strong winds can be a factor and livestock roam free, so stay alert!
Sitting high in the Rockies, this route hits an elevation of 1,854m (6,082ft). Oh, and a heads up: Powderface Trail is closed from December 1st to May 15th each year. Mother Nature calls the shots on this one, so weather dictates when it's safe to explore!
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 34 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,854 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in north-america
hardBurnt Knob
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, adventure junkies! We're heading to Burnt Knob, a seriously epic peak in the southern Clearwater Mountains of Idaho. Nestled right on the edge of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness in the Nez Perce National Forest, this spot is a total knockout. The road to the top? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Forest Road 468-C, as it's known, is a gravelly, rocky, and sometimes wildly bumpy ride. Think tippy, too! You'll definitely need some serious wheeling experience to tackle this unmaintained track. Word to the wise: this road is usually snowed in from October to June, so plan your trip accordingly. Heads up – this trail gets *steep*. And keep an eye on the weather! Thunderstorms can turn those unpaved sections into a 4x4 nightmare, or worse, make them impassable. But the reward? Stunning views from the summit, where you'll find a cool old lookout tower built way back in 1930. It's still maintained for emergencies, so you know you're in a wild, remote location. Trust me, the views alone are worth the white-knuckle drive! Just remember to take it slow and easy, and you'll have a story to tell for years.
hardIs there a road up Mt. Whitney?
🇺🇸 Usa
Whitney Portal Road is a short but spectacular drive that takes you about halfway up Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States, in Inyo County, in the US state of California. Is there a road up Mt. Whitney? Tucked away in the eastern central part of California, the road is 19.31km (12 miles) long, starting at Lone Pine. It’s totally paved. The road connects Lone Pine to Whitney Portal (the Whitney Portal Store is at the Portal, and the store is open in the summer). Is the road to Whitney Portal open? Set high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Whitney Portal Road usually opens sometime in early May, with the first major winter storm shutting it down sometime in November, meaning it is not maintained or cleared of snow. However, it is not physically barred, and climbers routinely drive as far as conditions will allow. The road is not gated or otherwise physically blocked; call the Inyo National Forest for information. Weather and road conditions can change in an instant. Can you see Mount Whitney from the road? The road ends at 2,557m (8,389ft) above sea level at Whitney Portal, where there is a close view of Mount Whitney. When was Whitney Portal Road in California built? The road to the summit was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. How long does it take to drive Whitney Portal Road in California? To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 25 and 35 minutes. The drive features sweeping views. It twists and turns through an otherworldly landscape known as the Alabama Hills, a set of bizarrely constructed rock piles, before setting on a fairly straight shot for the foothills of Mount Whitney. Alabama Hills are the scene of literally hundreds of cowboy films, but the road has a film history, too. The steep, sharp switchbacks along the Whitney Portal Road were prominent in scenes in the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz film "The Long, Long Trailer," in which Lucy surreptitiously fills a travel trailer with her rock collection until it’s too heavy to ascend the grade. The road is also featured in the 1941 classic, "High Sierra," starring Humphrey Bogart. The vistas change dramatically as you draw closer to the mountains, seeming more and more massive until suddenly they overwhelm you, and you're a part of them, looking back down on the road, the hills, and the Owens Valley. In other words, there's plenty of time to think about what you're getting yourself into. Is Whitney Portal Road in California challenging? This route is paved but narrow, steep, and winding with dramatic switchbacks. There is a risk of rock slides on the way up. It’s very steep, with some 14% gradients. It is a great and difficult climb out of the high desert up towards Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48. The road has some narrow parts and blind corners. Like most eastern Sierra ascents, this one starts out tame and ends up tough. The grade generally increases as you climb so that a five-mile stretch in the 2nd half averages 9%. The hill lets up just before the finish at Whitney Portal and a parking/hiking area (trailhead to Mt. Whitney). Whitney Portal is also very similar to the famed French climb of The narrow road to Schofield Pass in Colorado is for experienced drivers only The creepy story of Sensabaugh Tunnel in Tennessee 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.
hardIs the road to Tomichi Pass unpaved?
🇺🇸 Usa
Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Tomichi Pass! This beast of a mountain pass clocks in at a whopping 11,998 feet in Chaffee County, Colorado. Get ready for an *unpaved* adventure on Forest Road 888, stretching from Brittle Silver Basin to the old mining town of Whitepine. Heads up, this isn't your Sunday drive. We're talking steep, narrow shelf roads that'll test your nerves (especially if you're afraid of heights!). You'll want a high-clearance SUV with low-range gearing. Built way back in the 1870s, this historic route through the Gunnison National Forest is typically snowed in from late October to late June/early July. The climb is real. From Forest Service Road 839, it's just under a mile with a seriously steep 9.68% average gradient. The trickiest part? The *narrowness* of the trail. Passing other vehicles is a nightmare on the north side, and you might be doing some serious reversing. Keep an eye out for the dodgy bridge – it’s definitely seen better days! The southern approach is your standard forest road, but beware of rockslides. And the views? Totally worth it! You’ll be treated to incredible vistas of Hancock Pass and Middle Quartz Creek. The summit is super close to another fork in the road, so if you want to tack on a short side trip, you totally can. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road!
moderateAn exciting and pleasant road trip to Sex Peak in MT
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, folks, buckle up for an off-the-beaten-path adventure to Sex Peak in Montana! Don't worry, it's not *that* kind of peak - legend has it the name comes from a rather saucy conversation between a park official and a forester back in the day. You'll find this beauty nestled in Sanders County, within the Kootenai National Forest. The turnoff is south of White Pine, off of MT-200. Road 2222, an 18.8-mile dirt track, will lead you to the 5,797-foot summit. Be warned: you'll need a high-clearance vehicle for this one! Typically, you can hit this route from late June through mid-October. Once you reach the top (after dealing with some seriously bumpy conditions), you'll be rewarded with killer panoramic views. We're talking the Clarks Fork Valley, the Bitterroot Mountains to the west, and the Cabinet Range to the east! Oh, and there's a cool fire lookout tower up there too, dating back to the early 1920s. So, are you ready to get off the grid and experience a truly unforgettable drive?