
Road trip guide: Conquering Rocky Point in Idaho
Usa, north-america
1.4 km
1,900 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you find yourself in Idaho County, Idaho, and you've got a hankering for some serious elevation, you NEED to check out Rocky Point. We're talking about a peak sitting pretty at 6,233 feet (1,900m) in the Bitterroot Range.
Now, fair warning: the road to the top, Forest Road 500A (aka Rocky Point Lookout Road), is all dirt. Think rugged, think real. You'll probably need a 4x4 to make it, and heads up – it's usually snowed in from October to June. But trust me, it's worth the wait.
The climb itself is short and sweet (or maybe short and *sweaty*): just 0.9 miles (1.4km) from the Lolo Motorway (Forest Road 500) , but it packs a punch, gaining 305 feet (93m) of elevation with some seriously steep sections hitting a 12% grade! At the summit, you'll find a lookout tower built back in '63, and it's still staffed every year. The views? Absolutely breathtaking. Get ready for some serious photo ops!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 1.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,900 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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