
Mount Yeckel
Usa, north-america
N/A
3,588 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! If you're anywhere near Pitkin County, Colorado, and you've got a serious itch for a high-altitude adventure, Mount Yeckel is calling your name. We're talking a staggering 11,771 feet above sea level!
The road up, known by a few names like Larkspur Mountain Road (FSR #103), Christmas Tree Road, and Lenado/Johnson Creek Road, is not for the faint of heart. Think gravel, think rocks, think seriously rugged terrain winding through the White River National Forest. Definitely 4x4 territory here, folks. And forget about it in the winter – totally impassable.
If you're not comfortable with unpaved mountain roads and heights make you queasy, this one's best left to the pros. But if you're up for the challenge, the views of the Elk Range along the way are absolutely breathtaking. Trust me, the white-knuckle drive is worth it for those vistas!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 3,588 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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