
John Kerr Peak
Usa, north-america
N/A
2,705 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, folks, buckle up for John Kerr Peak in New Mexico's Catron County! This baby tops out at a cool 8,874 feet (2,705m).
Now, getting there is half the adventure. We're talking Gila National Forest, which means gravel and rocks all the way. Forget about it in winter – totally snowed in. If you're not comfortable on unpaved mountain roads, this isn't your cup of tea. 4x4 is a MUST. Seriously, don't even think about it without one. Oh, and heights? Yeah, they're a thing here, so maybe skip it if you get the jitters easily. Expect some seriously steep sections. But hey, the views from the top are insane!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 2,705 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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