Is Salmon River Road in California paved?
Usa, north-america
27.68 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! Wanna experience a real California hidden gem? Head to Siskiyou County and tackle the legendary Salmon River Road!
This 17.2-mile beauty winds its way from Somes Bar (just off Highway 96) all the way to Forks of Salmon, hugging the Salmon River. Picture this: you're cruising along a paved road, but it's seriously narrow, carved right into the side of a dramatic river canyon. We're talking major cliffs and ledges, with drops of hundreds of feet down to the river below! And, uh, no guardrails. So yeah, maybe skip this one if you're prone to panic attacks.
The weather here can be totally unpredictable thanks to the nearby Pacific. Think sunshine one minute, freezing rain (or even snow!) the next, especially in spring. The road’s mostly a single lane, but it’s two-way, so keep your eyes peeled. Drive slow, be ready to pull over for oncoming cars, and always, ALWAYS use caution. Rockslides are a real thing here, so stay alert! Oh, and leave the RV at home, seriously. This road is NOT RV-friendly.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 27.68 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in north-america
extremeWhere is TV Hill located?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're gunning for some serious elevation in Nevada's Mineral County, itching to conquer one of the state's highest peaks. TV Hill's calling your name! This beast sits pretty near Hawthorne, a true giant guarding the eastern flank of the Excelsior Mountains. Think classic high desert – rugged, raw, and utterly epic views that stretch forever. Just getting to the trailhead involves some off-the-grid forest service roads, so bring your A-game navigation skills. Why "TV Hill"? Well, the summit's crowned with a bunch of communication towers beaming TV and radio signals across the valleys. The road? Blasted straight up the mountainside to keep those towers humming. Hold up – this ain't your grandma's Sunday drive. We're talking loose scree, gnarly rocks, and pure mountain grit. You NEED a high-clearance 4x4. The road's narrow and tight, so meeting another rig is a potentially dicey situation. Weathered ruts and tire placement skills? Essential. The final push kicks off from Lucky Boy Pass, a mere 4.5 miles to glory. But trust me, those miles are a SLOG. The elevation spikes quickly, and that thin air above 10,000 feet will seriously test your engine. Plan for a crawl and pack your patience. Word to the wise: Mother Nature rules this roost. From late October to late June/early July, TV Hill's usually snowed in. Drifts linger well into summer. Check local conditions in Hawthorne before you even think about heading up – and be ready for sudden storms that can turn the road into a greasy mud pit. Think you’re up for the challenge? TV Hill awaits… if you dare!
moderateTripoli Road in New Hampshire: A Scenic Drive Through White Mountain National Forest
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along Tripoli Road (aka Forest Road 30) in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest. This hidden gem, carved out back in '34, stretches for just over 11 glorious miles, connecting Woodstock to Waterville Valley. Get ready for some twists and turns! This winding road is mostly unpaved, adding to the adventure. There are a few spots where you'll feel like you're climbing straight up, with grades hitting almost 10%! But don't worry, the road's generally in good shape. Fall foliage is absolutely unreal here, but be warned – it gets CROWDED on weekends and holidays. You'll need to snag an entrance pass to get in, but trust me, it's worth it. You'll climb to almost 2,400 feet at Thornton Gap, soaking in those White Mountain views. Just a heads up: this road's closed during the snowy months (usually open from mid-May to October), so plan accordingly!
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.
moderateSlumgullion Pass is the steepest paved maintained road in Colorado
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, road trippers, because Slumgullion Pass in southwestern Colorado is calling your name! This fully paved stretch of Colorado State Highway 149 (aka the Silver Thread Scenic Byway) isn't just any mountain pass; it's a high-altitude adventure topping out at 11,574 feet! This route boasts the steepest sustained grades in Colorado, hitting nearly 10% on the north side, so get ready for a climb! Starting near Lake City, you'll gain over 2,500 feet in just 7 miles – a pretty consistent uphill push. Don't let the steepness scare you, though. This two-lane road is generally well-maintained, even in winter (thanks, snowplows!), making it accessible for most drivers. Just be aware of potential winter weather. Keep your eyes peeled for elk, deer, moose, and bighorn sheep. The pass itself is part of a larger 50-mile stretch, linking Lake City with the historic town of Creede. Make sure you stop at Windy Point Overlook, just west of the summit, for incredible panoramic views of the San Juan Mountains. You'll be gazing at peaks soaring over 13,000 feet! Seriously, the scenery is unreal.