
The closed road to Devil’s Slide Trestles in Colorado
Usa, north-america
N/A
293 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in the heart of Colorado's Boulder County lies the legendary Devil's Slide Trestles – a seriously sketchy, narrow-gauge railway relic from the Denver & Salt Lake Railroad days. We're talking about a nail-biting crossing of the Continental Divide via Rollins Pass.
Imagine two rickety trestles clinging to the edge of a cliff, with a dizzying 960-foot vertical drop beneath you! These trestles were built right on the edge of South Boulder Canyon way back in 1904. They look like they're barely hanging on over thin air.
Perched high in the Rockies, you can still see much of the original route. Be warned though: some of the trestles have seen better days and have partially collapsed. There are NO guardrails, and the drop-offs are seriously steep. Oh, and did I mention you can see straight through the gaps between some of the boards?
Originally built for trains linking Denver to Winter Park and Salt Lake City, the route was later used by cars. From 1955 to 1979, Rollins Pass was a scenic route until a rockfall blocked the way. It briefly reopened in 1988, only to be permanently closed again in 1990. It's a truly stunning location, with the kind of scenery that makes you feel like you're on top of the world. Just be prepared for some serious exposure!
Where is it?
The closed road to Devil’s Slide Trestles in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 38.5150, -101.2069
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 293 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 38.5150, -101.2069
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