The unpaved mountain road to Marshall Pass in Colorado

Hey there, adventure seekers! Let's talk Marshall Pass, a real gem nestled in Saguache County, Colorado. This baby sits way up high at 10,842 feet!

You'll find it hanging out a bit south of Monarch Pass in central-southern Colorado. Back in the day, a smart guy named Lt. William L. Marshall found it in 1873, and boom, it got his name.

The route's pretty cool because it mostly follows an old Denver & Rio Grande railroad line that was headed to Salt Lake City a century ago. So, instead of super steep climbs, it's more of a gentle, winding adventure. They finished the Marshall Pass Toll Road way back in 1878.

Now, heads up, this isn't your typical paved highway – it's all unpaved and called Marshall Pass Road.

But don't sweat it too much. Under good conditions, most cars can handle it. There are a few bumpy spots, especially on the west side, so take it slow if your car is low to the ground.

Keep in mind, this road gets buried in snow during winter and isn't plowed, so it's closed to cars when it's cold.

The views? Unreal! You'll be staring at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains the whole time. Summer and late fall are especially gorgeous. Plus, there are tons of free campsites near the pass if you're into roughing it!

The whole stretch is about 30.4 miles long, going from Sargents (US-50) to Mears Junction (Highway 285).