The road to Raíces, the highest town of Mexico

The road to Raíces, the highest town of Mexico

Mexico, north-america

Length

6.9 km

Elevation

3,633 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, so you know I'm always hunting for those hidden gems, and I just found a crazy one: Raíces in the State of Mexico! This place is seriously sky-high, the highest town in the whole country at a whopping 11,919 feet. We're talking one of the highest drivable towns on the planet!

The road up, Ruta 10, is totally paved and winds up the side of the Nevado de Toluca volcano. Think incredible views and lush forest scenery, but be warned, there are some serious curves along the way!

The adventure kicks off from México 134, and it's only about 4.28 miles to Raíces, but don't let the short distance fool you. This climb is STEEP. We're talking a max gradient of 7% on some of those ramps! Buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable drive.

Where is it?

The road to Raíces, the highest town of Mexico is located in Mexico (north-america). Coordinates: 22.5579, -102.3174

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Road Details

Country
Mexico
Continent
north-america
Length
6.9 km
Max Elevation
3,633 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
22.5579, -102.3174

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