Rock Creek Road is the highest paved public road of California
Usa, north-america
16.73 km
3,121 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, road trippers! Let's talk Rock Creek Road, the highest paved public road in California, and trust me, the views are worth the climb.
You'll find this beauty straddling Mono and Inyo counties, smack-dab in the Inyo National Forest in eastern-central California. It's about 10.4 miles (16.73km) of pure pavement joy, starting just east of Tom's Place off Highway 395 and winding its way up to Mosquito Flats. Be warned, though—it gets a bit narrow and cozy after Rock Creek Lake, like "hope you like the person in the other car" narrow.
Hold onto your hats, folks, because this road isn't messing around with the steepness. We're talking inclines hitting 10-15% in places! You'll be gaining a whopping 969 meters (that's a lot!) from Tom's Place, averaging a nearly 6% gradient.
You'll top out at a parking lot sitting pretty at 3,121 meters (10,239 feet) above sea level. We're talking serious high-altitude vibes here. Word to the wise: this road is usually buried in snow until late May or early June, and you might need chains or snow tires anytime. Mountain weather is no joke.
The drive itself? Only 20-25 minutes without stopping, but with scenery like this, you're gonna want to pull over. Think epic Sierra peaks and views for days. It's a climb, but the reward is an unforgettable experience!
Where is it?
Rock Creek Road is the highest paved public road of California is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 43.7384, -94.3105
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 16.73 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,121 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 43.7384, -94.3105
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