Rollins Pass is a historic road in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado
Usa, north-america
16.57 km
3,565 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! Rollins Pass in Colorado is calling your name! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about a climb to 11,696 feet of pure Rocky Mountain glory, right on the Continental Divide, straddling Gilpin, Boulder, and Grand counties.
Forget pavement. You'll be tackling 10.3 miles of unadulterated off-road terrain (County Road 80, a.k.a. Corona Pass Road). Think potholes, rocks of all sizes, and a road that definitely isn't winning any maintenance awards. A high-clearance 4x4 is an absolute must, and even then, only when the weather's playing nice in the summer months. The road kicks off near Rollinsville and dead-ends at the infamous, but closed, Needle Eye Tunnel.
Fair warning: Rollins Pass is usually snowed in from mid-November to mid-June. When it's open, prepare for some seriously steep sections, hitting gradients of up to 9%! You'll be gaining a whopping 2,565 feet of elevation, averaging around a 4.71% grade.
Rollins Pass has a colorful past. It was originally part of a railroad route back in 1903 and later became a car route, only to be closed again after a rockfall in the Needle's Eye Tunnel.
But hey, the views! We're talking jaw-dropping panoramas of pristine lakes, majestic mountains, and wildflowers galore. Plus, you get bragging rights for conquering a truly epic off-road adventure and a glimpse of the historical Needle Eye tunnel. Trust me, the bumpy ride is 100% worth the reward!
Where is it?
Rollins Pass is a historic road in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 45.3677, -101.2478
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 16.57 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,565 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 45.3677, -101.2478
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