Is Saltillo-Monterrey Highway worth the drive?
Mexico, north-america
N/A
3,000 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up for the Saltillo-Monterrey Highway! This stretch of road has a bit of a reputation, previously sharing the title of "Mexico's Deadliest" with Mexico 40D. The old "libre" route was notorious for its crazy curves and seriously steep climbs—though it got some love and improvements around the 2000s. It's still a bit dicey, but traffic chilled out a bit after the new toll road opened in 2009.
But is it worth the drive? Absolutely! The views of the Sierra de las Cumbres mountains are jaw-dropping (some peaks reach a whopping 3000 meters!). You'll start near Ramos Arizpe at about 1260 meters above sea level, then wind your way down to the Monterrey metro area at around 600 meters.
Now, let's talk safety. This road's known for a few hazards: reckless drivers, crazy-strong winds, and sudden fog patches (plus flash floods from the mountains!). There was a massive pile-up in 2013 caused by dense fog that involved over 100 vehicles and caused 58 fatalities.
Road Details
- Country
- Mexico
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 3,000 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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