Lee Pass
Usa, north-america
8.5 km
1.903 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Zion National Park in southwestern Utah, and you stumble upon the legendary Lee Pass. This isn't just any road; it's a 5.3-mile asphalt ribbon winding its way up to 6,082 feet above sea level!
The drive? Simply breathtaking. Think postcard views at every turn as you climb toward the Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, which sits even higher at 6,243 feet! The unique rock formations here are seriously unreal.
Word of warning though: Mother Nature calls the shots here, especially in winter. Snowstorms can temporarily shut things down, though they do plow it. So, keep an eye on the forecast! But trust me, if you get the chance, this twisting road is a must-do for any road trip adventure.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 8.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1.903 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
extremeDriving the treacherous Raton Pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, road trippers, listen up! Raton Pass straddles the Colorado-New Mexico border, soaring to a cool 7,841 feet. "Ratón" means "mouse" in Spanish, and this route was a real game-changer back in the day, part of the legendary Santa Fe Trail. The first road snaked through here way back in 1866. You'll cruise between Las Animas County, Colorado and Colfax County, New Mexico. Today, it's all smooth sailing on Interstate 25. The 21.8-mile stretch from Raton, New Mexico to Trinidad, Colorado is in great shape. Just be ready for some climbs! Perched high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this pass is generally open year-round. Winter, though? That's another story. Think wicked winds, slick ice, and blankets of snow. Mother Nature can throw a serious curveball, so keep your wits about you. Expect possible closures when the snow really starts to fly. It's not brutally steep, thankfully. If you're coming from Raton, you'll gain about 1,089 feet over 11.6 miles, a gentle 1.77% average grade. From Trinidad, it’s a bit more of a climb: 1,831 feet over 13.9 miles, with an average grade of 2.49% and a max of 6%. Time to hit the road!
easyHow long is CanAm Highway?
🇨🇦 Canada
Okay, road trip dreamers, picture this: the CanAm Highway! We're talking a serious north-south adventure, stretching a whopping 1,975 miles! Starting all the way down in sunny El Paso, Texas, right on the Mexican border, this baby takes you through six US states (Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota) before crossing into Canada. Keep heading north to La Ronge, a cool little town nestled in the heart of Saskatchewan's boreal forest. And the best part? It's all paved, so no need for a monster truck (unless you *want* to, of course). This epic route pieces together sections of U.S. Route 85 and Interstate 25 down in the States, then hops onto Saskatchewan Highway 35, SK 39, SK 6, SK 3, and SK 2 once you cross the border. Oh, and let's not forget Mexican Federal Highway 45 gets you started south of the border. Get ready for some serious scenery changes!
hardWhat is at the summit of Bald Butte?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're in Lake County, Oregon, smack-dab in the south-central part of the state. You're about to tackle Bald Butte, a 7,542-foot peak that's all about volcanic vibes, sagebrush seas, and some serious peace and quiet. You're driving through the Fremont-Winema National Forest, a wild wonderland of snow-capped peaks and views for days. Seriously, this isn't just a drive; it's a full-on immersion into the untamed heart of the Pacific Northwest. So, what's the payoff? At the top, you'll find a historic fire lookout tower that was built way back in 1931. It’s surrounded by forested hillsides and panoramic views. Only two of these kinds of towers still stand in Oregon. You can even rent it out for the night! Talk about a unique stay. Now, let's talk about the road. It's about 24.2 miles long, entirely unpaved, and most cars can handle it just fine. BUT – those last two miles? That's where things get interesting. It's steep, it's rocky, and you might have to do some light rock-moving to clear the way. RVs? Probably not a great idea. High clearance is your friend here. The adventure kicks off from the town of Paisley. Fill up your tank and grab some water because you're heading into the boonies. As you climb, you'll cruise through everything from wide-open sage country to thick forests. And oh yeah, the views of Sherman Peak in California are insane!
extremeThe Engineering of Kicking Horse Pass
🇨🇦 Canada
All aboard for a wild ride through the Canadian Rockies! The railway lines here are seriously impressive feats of engineering, mainly thanks to Canadian Pacific (CP) and Canadian National (CN). These tracks slice right through the Continental Divide, battling some crazy steep gradients and seriously unstable ground. We're talking about conquering Kicking Horse Pass (1,627m) and Yellowhead Pass (1,131m), with insane features like the Spiral Tunnels, Stoney Creek Bridge, and the notorious Hell's Gate. The Kicking Horse Pass is the real MVP. Originally, the "Big Hill" section was a total nightmare with a super-steep gradient that caused constant derailments. Enter the Spiral Tunnels in 1909 – pure genius! These tunnels loop inside Cathedral Mountain and Mt. Ogden, doubling the track length and dropping the gradient to a much more manageable 2.2%. Then there's the Fraser Canyon, a dramatic gorge carved by the Fraser River. The railway clings to the canyon walls, squeezing through Hell's Gate where the canyon narrows dramatically. Landslides are a real threat here, so constant monitoring is a must. These rail lines play nice with the region's high-altitude roads, particularly near Lake Louise and Jasper along Highway 93. While the railway hugs the valley floors to maintain that gentle 2.2% gradient, Highway 93 climbs higher to tackle Sunwapta Pass. Both rail and road face the same hazards: avalanches and permafrost issues. Don't miss the bridges! The Stoney Creek Bridge is a 148-meter long steel arch soaring 91 meters above the creek – one of the highest railway bridges in North America. Near Lytton, the CP and CN tracks pull a cool criss-cross move over the river on two massive bridges. Finally, the Continental Divide crossings! Yellowhead Pass, used by the Jasper route, is the lowest pass in the Rockies, making for a gentler climb. And keep an eye out for Mount Robson (3,954m), the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.