
How to drive the Madeline Island Ice Road of Wisconsin?
Usa, north-america
3 km
18 m
hard
Year-round
Picture this: You're in northern Wisconsin, ready for an adventure on Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake! Forget the usual pavement – you're hitting the Madeline Island Ice Road, a seasonal marvel connecting Bayfield to La Pointe on Madeline Island.
Clocking in at about 3 km (almost 2 miles), this "Bayfield Ice Road" isn't just a shortcut; it's a wild ride. For a few weeks each winter, it replaces the ferry, becoming an official extension of County Highway H. Yep, it's so legit, it's on state maps!
Think driving on solid ice is easy? Think again! Marked by discarded Christmas trees, this route demands respect. Keep your speed under 15 mph, leave plenty of room between you and the next vehicle, and maybe say a little prayer. Don't forget to roll down your windows and ditch the seatbelt, just in case. The water beneath you plunges from 50 to over 250 feet deep!
The views? Stunning. The experience? Unforgettable. But remember, this isn't a joyride for the faint of heart. Slippery surfaces, hidden cracks – Mother Nature keeps you on your toes. Always check conditions before you go. This icy highway offers a unique blend of thrills and chills!
Where is it?
How to drive the Madeline Island Ice Road of Wisconsin? is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 40.5822, -93.5657
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 3 km
- Max Elevation
- 18 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.5822, -93.5657
Related Roads in north-america
hardBig Bear Peak
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Big Bear Peak in Colorado's San Miguel County is calling your name! We're talking seriously high altitude here – a whopping 12,168 feet! The route to the summit? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Picture this: a rugged, gravel mine road winding through the San Miguel Mountains, part of the majestic Rockies. Expect a bumpy, tippy ride. You'll definitely need a 4x4 with high clearance for this one. Heads up: this road is usually snowed in from September to July, so plan accordingly. Also, if you're not a fan of heights or steep climbs, maybe skip this one. But if you're an experienced off-roader looking for a challenge and jaw-dropping scenery in the Lizard Head Wilderness of the Uncompahgre National Forest, then this is your jam. Just be prepared for potentially muddy conditions if it's been raining!
hardWhy is it called Tejon?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along Interstate 5 in California, headed toward Tejon Pass. This isn't just any highway; it's a 76-mile stretch connecting the Central Valley to Southern California, and it climbs to a whopping 4,160 feet above sea level! Locals often call it the Grapevine, but that's technically just a super steep 5-mile section with a 6% grade. The whole pass is a gradual climb from the south, but the north side? Get ready for a wild descent! Northbound drivers drop over 2,600 feet in just 11 miles, with some seriously steep sections. Southbound, you'll tackle rolling hills before plunging down a "5-mile grade" that loses over 1,600 feet. Heads up, truckers: there are a couple of runaway truck ramps near the top—this road means business! And speaking of business, winter here can be brutal. This area's known for sudden weather changes, and heavy snowfall can shut the whole thing down. Icy conditions on those steep grades with holiday traffic? No thanks! But when the sun's out, the views are killer, offering a gateway from the hustle of Los Angeles to the rest of California. Just remember to respect the road, and maybe say a little thank you to Lt. Francisco Ruiz, who named it after spotting a dead badger here way back in 1806!
moderateGlacier Peak, an old mine road to the summit
🇺🇸 Usa
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!
hardWhere is Mosquito Peak?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so you wanna bag Mosquito Peak in central Colorado? This bad boy tops out at a whopping 13,664 feet! You're looking at some serious elevation. Forget pavement, the "road" to the summit is an old, super-eroded mining track. We're talking rugged. It's a short but brutal 1.83 miles from Mosquito Pass, but get this: you'll climb over 1,500 feet! That's a seriously steep average grade. Is it worth it? Absolutely! The views from the top are incredible, especially of the surrounding peaks in the Mosquito Range. Heads up: this is definitely a summer adventure. Snow usually sticks around until late June (or even later!), and this area is known for being super windy, so bundle up! Can you even drive it? Here's the deal, there's an old mining road to the summit, but access for vehicles is blocked. They are very eroded and wouldn't be safe for driving anyways, and I don't believe they go up to the summit at all. There is some old equipment up there. And we did see evidence that someone had driven (or tried to drive) up there at one time. It was really far away, so I didn't get a picture, but a vehicle had rolled off one of the eroded roads a few hundred feet down the slope. I'm not sure if they gated the road after that happened or if that person came in from a different way, but it didn't look like a good time. You could easily hike either to the summit of Mosquito Peak or to the mine equipment from Mosquito Pass, however. It's not very far and shouldn't be terribly difficult, except for the altitude.