How to get to Crystal Lake in Colorado by car?

How to get to Crystal Lake in Colorado by car?

Usa, north-america

Length

N/A

Elevation

3,570 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Alright, thrill-seekers, listen up! Crystal Lake in central Colorado is calling your name, but this isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking a high-altitude adventure in Summit County, reaching a staggering 11,712 feet above sea level!

You'll find this gem tucked away in the Mosquito Range of the Rockies. Co Road 2, a gravel and rocky path off Colorado State Highway 9, is your route. Seriously, a 4x4 is a must for this trek!

Fair warning: Mother Nature calls the shots here. Expect the road to be closed from October to June due to snow. And even in summer, altitude sickness and crazy weather can be real issues. The road tops out at nearly 12,000 feet. If you've got respiratory or heart problems, this one's best admired from afar. But if you're prepared, the views from the top are absolutely unreal.

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Max Elevation
3,570 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in north-america

Gunsight Passmoderate

Gunsight Pass

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, adventurers, let's talk about Gunsight Pass! Tucked away in southeastern Oregon's Malheur County, this beauty sits at a cool 6,332 feet above sea level. You'll be cruising along Mahogany Road to get there. Now, heads up: it's a gravel road. When it’s dry, you'll likely have a good time, but those unpaved sections can get seriously gnarly when wet. Seriously, if there’s a hint of rain in the air, maybe save this trip for another day. This route stretches for about 14.4 miles, so you will feel like you're really out there. With the elevation you will have some gorgeous views along the way!

Where is Togwotee Pass?moderate

Where is Togwotee Pass?

🇺🇸 Usa

Alright, road trippers, listen up! You HAVE to experience Togwotee Pass in Wyoming. This epic stretch of U.S. Highway 287/26 clocks in at around 55 miles, and it’ll take you all the way up to 9,580 feet above sea level in the Absaroka Mountains. We're talking Teton County views for days! You'll find it nestled in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in northwestern Wyoming. The pass is named after Togwotee, a Sheepeater tribe subchief. The road is paved, so no need for a monster truck, but be warned – there are some seriously steep sections. And, while it's usually open year-round, keep an eye on the weather, especially in winter. This area gets *dumped* on with snow—we’re talking potentially over 25 feet…sometimes even double that! Blizzards can shut things down, so plan accordingly. This route runs from Moran, south-central Teton County, to Dubois in Fremont County. Get ready for an unforgettable drive!

Supreme Lifthard

Supreme Lift

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, so Utah's got some serious hidden gems, and the Supreme Lift road is one of them! Perched way up in Salt Lake County, this gravel and rocky trail climbs to a dizzying 10,498 feet. We're talking serious altitude here! Tucked inside the Wasatch Mountain Range, this isn't your average Sunday drive. It's actually a service road for the Alta ski resort chairlift, and it’s STEEP - some parts hit a wild 30% grade. Seriously, plan accordingly. The window to tackle this one is super short, think late August. And even then, Mother Nature calls the shots. Expect strong winds (it’s basically a constant), and don’t be surprised by a random snow flurry, even in summer. Winter? Forget about it! Brutal is an understatement. But if you time it right, the views from the top, overlooking Alta, are absolutely killer!

Road trip guide: Conquering the Canol Roadhard

Road trip guide: Conquering the Canol Road

🇨🇦 Canada

Get ready for a wild ride on the Canol Road! This rugged track, carved out in the 1940s by an oil company, winds through the untamed landscapes of Canada's Northwest and Yukon Territories. Fair warning: this one's not for the faint of heart! Canol, short for Canadian Oil Road, is almost entirely unpaved, stretching a whopping 449 km (279 miles) from Johnsons Crossing up to the Canol Heritage Trail. Originally built to support a gas pipeline, it's now divided into three sections: South Canol, North Canol, and the Canol Heritage Trail. While the southern part sees a bit more action, any travel here is an adventure. It used to reach all the way to Norman Wells, NWT, but isn't maintained past the Yukon/NWT border anymore. The road climbs to a breathtaking 1,387m (4,550 feet) at Macmillan Pass. Keep in mind, it's usually closed from late October until late June or early July. The South Canol, at 220km (137 miles), runs from Johnsons Crossing on the Alaska Highway to the Robert Campbell Highway near Ross River. Expect a narrow, winding path with one-lane bridges, some seriously rough patches, and occasional closures due to washouts. Oh, and did we mention, zero services? A straight shot will take around 4 hours. The North Canol stretches 232km (144 miles) from the Robert Campbell Highway near Ross River to the Yukon/NWT border. Just north of Ross River, you'll quickly cross the Pelly River via ferry. This section is also narrow and winding, with potential washouts, no services, and those charming one-lane bridges. Beyond the border lies the abandoned section, about 372km (230 miles) of unusable road which follows the old Canol Road.