
The horrendous road to Nevado de Colima
Mexico, north-america
23.4 km
3,991 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! We're heading to Nevado de Colima in Jalisco, Mexico, and let me tell you, this isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about a climb to a whopping 3,991 meters (13,093 feet) above sea level!
This road is not for the faint of heart. Forget your low-riders β you'll need a serious 4x4 to conquer this beast. Expect some seriously steep sections, clocking in at around 12%. Imagine a rugged, rocky path that feels more like a mule track than a road in places. It's about one-and-a-half lanes wide and turns into a muddy slip-n-slide after a rain shower.
The entire route is gravel and rock, nestled inside the stunning Nevado de Colima National Park. Fair warning: most folks only make it to the locked gate around 11,500 feet due to the extreme conditions.
Originally built to service communication towers way up top, this road demands a high-clearance vehicle or 4WD. Starting from Carretera Estatal el Grullo-Ciudad Guzman, the adventure spans 23.4 km (14.54 miles) with a massive elevation gain of 2,214 meters! Expect an average gradient of around 9.46%, but remember those sections hitting 12%? This road delivers incredible views if you have the nerve and the vehicle to get there.
Where is it?
The horrendous road to Nevado de Colima is located in Mexico (north-america). Coordinates: 22.8714, -102.5095
Road Details
- Country
- Mexico
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 23.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,991 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 22.8714, -102.5095
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