Is the road to Picket Pin Mountain in Montana unpaved?

Is the road to Picket Pin Mountain in Montana unpaved?

Usa, north-america

Length

28.64 km

Elevation

2,757 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, let's talk Picket Pin Mountain in Montana! This isn't your Sunday drive. We're talking a full-on unpaved climb on U.S. Forest Service Road 140 (aka Picket Pin-Iron Mountain Road). You'll NEED a 4x4, trust me. This area is riddled with ATV trails and relics from old mining days, so keep your eyes peeled.

Nestled way up in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Picket Pin is a high-altitude experience, topping out at 9,046 feet! That means stunning views, but also a short window to enjoy them. The road's usually snowed in from October through June, weather depending, of course.

The fun starts at County Road 420 (Stillwater Road) near Nye, and from there it's about 17.8 miles to the top. Don't let the distance fool you โ€“ you'll be climbing 4,524 feet along the way, with some seriously steep sections. That's an average gradient of 4.81%, so get ready for some low-gear action!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
28.64 km
Max Elevation
2,757 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in north-america

What are the highest roads in Arizona?extreme

What are the highest roads in Arizona?

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Usa

Arizona, the sixth-largest state in the US Southwest, is a total showstopper with its crazy contrasts. Think scorching deserts, but also epic mountains! It's part of the Mountain West, so get ready for some serious elevation changes. Geographically, it's like three totally different worlds mashed together: the Colorado Plateau, the Transition Zone, and the Basin and Ridge Region, all climbing to some serious heights. This wild, rugged landscape, with peaks like the San Francisco Peaks and canyons so deep theyโ€™ll take your breath away, means Arizona's got some seriously challenging mountain roads. They're perfect for anyone looking to explore the state's vertical extremes. Get ready for an unforgettable road trip!

A scenic paved road to Guardsman Pass in Utahhard

A scenic paved road to Guardsman Pass in Utah

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Usa

Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about Guardsman Pass in Utah! Nestled high in the Wasatch Mountains, this beauty sits at a cool 9,740 feet above sea level, right on the Salt Lake/Wasatch county line, just east of Salt Lake City. You'll be cruising along Guardsman Pass Scenic Backway (aka Guardsman Pass Road or Utah 190 West), a fully paved 24.2-mile stretch connecting Cottonwood Heights and Park City. And guess what? You can totally do it in your family car! Keep in mind: this road is a fair-weather friend. Typically, it's buried under snow from late fall to late spring, usually opening up sometime between late May and June, and closing again in October. Mother Nature can be a bit unpredictable, so even summer storms can make things dicey. Get ready for some fun! This drive has it all: twists, turns, and some seriously steep sections. Starting from Park City, you'll climb 2,650 feet over 7.07 miles, with an average grade of 7.1%. Without stops, it's about an hour's drive each way, but trust me, you'll want to build in extra time. There's short-term parking and bathrooms at the top. The views are epic, especially in the fall when the aspens explode in orange and yellow, and the oaks turn fiery red. Pack a camera and maybe a picnic basket โ€“ you're gonna want to soak it all in!

Where is Cory Peak?hard

Where is Cory Peak?

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Usa

Okay, so you wanna bag a peak in western Nevada? Let me tell you about Corey Peak! This baby sits way up high, topping out at a serious elevation. We're talking about one of the highest roads in the whole state. You'll find it about 10 miles southwest of Hawthorne. The road up? Get ready for a challenging drive! We're talking a pretty challenging drive to within a few hundred feet of the top of Mount Corey. From Corey Peak Summit Road, you'll be tackling 7 crazy-sharp hairpin turns, so be prepared to put your driving skills to the test. Heads up, this road is usually closed from late October through late June or early July โ€” snow makes it impassable. Bonus points: you're tracing the steps of James Manning Cory, a local businessperson from way back when.

How do I get to Angora Lakes?moderate

How do I get to Angora Lakes?

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Usa

Okay, so you're trying to get to the stunning Angora Lakes, nestled high in the California mountains south of Lake Tahoe? Here's the lowdown on the road: You'll be cruising along Angora Ridge Road (NF-1214) to get there. The good news is it's mostly paved! But heads up, it gets pretty steep and narrow in sections, so be prepared to pull over and let others pass. The road stretches for about 5.5 miles from the start and climbs to a parking lot sitting at 7,221 feet. There's a small fee to park here. From the lot, it's just a quick one-mile uphill hike to the lakes themselves. Keep an eye on the seasons! Because it's way up in the Sierra Nevada, the road usually closes for winter from around October to May. You'll also pass the Angora Lookout along the way. And of course, expect incredible views the whole drive. These lakes are the source of the little Angora Creek, making the area picture-perfect.