Infrastructure and Environmental Risk Factors
Usa, north-america
N/A
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're heading up to Bear Lake in Colorado. It's all paved, so no off-roading needed, but the views? Absolutely stunning.
Or, how about tackling the Carlsbad Caverns switchbacks in New Mexico? This one's a bit more intense—we're talking a seriously steep 20-degree grade! Hold on tight, it's a wild ride.
Want more? Come check out some spectacular roads across the globe!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in north-america
hardTreasure Hill
🇺🇸 Usa
Treasure Hill is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.805m (9,202ft) above the sea level, located in White Pine County, along the central eastern boundary of the U.S. state of Nevada. The peak is located within the White Pine Range range. The road to the top is very rough, tippy and bumpy at times. The road is usually impassable in winters. Great trail for experienced wheelers. The trail is narrow with few places for passing so meeting someone can be a challenge. In order to drive this road up, you need a high clearance vehicle! The trail is very steep. Wet conditions may make for tough driving along the muddy road. Navigating the Scenic Byways of Pennsylvania 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.
extremeRailway Engineering in the Canadian Rockies: The Rocky Mountaineer Routes
🇨🇦 Canada
All aboard for a wild ride through the Canadian Rockies! The railway lines here are seriously impressive feats of engineering, weaving through some of the most rugged terrain imaginable. Think massive gradients and shaky ground – it's not for the faint of heart. The Kicking Horse Pass is a legendary part of the "First Passage to the West." The original route was so steep (a crazy 4.5%!) that derailments were a constant worry. But engineers got clever and built the Spiral Tunnels. Trains actually loop *inside* the mountains to stretch out the track, cutting the gradient down to a much safer 2.2%. Then there's the Fraser Canyon, a dramatic gorge carved by the Fraser River on the way to Vancouver. The railway hugs the canyon walls, passing through the aptly named Hell's Gate, where the river squeezes through a narrow 35-meter gap. Landslides are a real concern, so the tracks need constant attention. Keep an eye out, because the railways often run alongside the scenic Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), especially near Lake Louise and Jasper. The railway sticks to the valley floors to keep those gradients gentle, while the highway climbs higher to cross the Bow Pass (2,067m) and Sunwapta Pass (2,030m). Both routes deal with the same challenges: avalanches in winter and unstable permafrost. The rail routes feature impressive steel structures designed to span deep glacial valleys. And get this: these tracks even cross the Continental Divide, the backbone of North America's watersheds. It's a journey you won't soon forget!
extremeDriving to the top of Mount Scott in Oklahoma
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, road trip time! Let's head to Mount Scott in Oklahoma's Comanche County. This peak, smack-dab in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, clocks in at 2,464 feet, and you can drive *almost* to the top. Mount Scott Road, the winding ribbon of asphalt to the summit, is reportedly the highest paved road in the state. You'll hop on from OK-49 for a quick 2.8-mile climb. But hold on, newbies! This isn't a Sunday stroll. Expect some seriously steep sections, crazy crosswinds, and hairpin turns that'll keep you on your toes. The road's open sunrise to sunset on weekdays, and noon to sunset on weekends. Just a heads-up: fog and icy conditions can shut things down, so keep an eye on the weather. The climb is real, folks. You'll gain over 1,000 feet from the highway, averaging a 6.93% grade, but with bursts over 12% that'll make your legs scream (if you're cycling, that is!). The descent? Let's just say respect that brake lever. But oh, the views! There are plenty of scenic pullouts along the way to catch your breath and snap some photos. And the summit? Prepare for your jaw to drop. You'll be gazing over southwest Oklahoma, the vast plains, the Wichita Mountains, the Slick Hills, and sparkling Lake Lawtonka. Trust me, this drive is all about the payoff.
moderateHow to get by car to Sunwapta Lake in Alberta?
🇨🇦 Canada
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Jasper National Park, near the BC border, and you stumble upon Sunwapta Lake. This isn't just any lake; it's a true Canadian Rockies gem sitting pretty at 1,960m (6,430ft)! You'll find it nestled at the foot of the massive Athabasca Glacier – talk about a photo op! "Sunwapta" means "turbulent water" in Stoney Nakoda, and with all the waterfalls around, you'll see why. There's a big parking lot nearby, so you can hop out and snap those postcard-perfect shots of the mountains and glaciers. Getting there is a breeze on Glacier Road. It's a quick 1.1km (0.68 miles) paved jaunt from Highway 93 (the Icefields Parkway), just past Sunwapta Pass. Heads up, though: this scenic road is totally closed for the winter, usually from mid-October to mid-April. So plan your visit for the warmer months!