Traveling along the scenic Covington Flat Road in California
Usa, north-america
15.44 km
1,496 m
moderate
Year-round
Ready for an off-the-beaten-path adventure in Joshua Tree National Park? Head to Covington Flat Road, a hidden gem in Southern California! This unpaved road winds through stunning desert scenery and is your gateway to some of the park’s most impressive Joshua trees (the area was named after a local rancher), junipers, and pinyon pines. You'll find both Upper and Lower Covington Flat Roads.
At around 9.6 miles long, this backcountry route starts on La Contenta Road near Yucca Valley and takes you to a parking lot that’s the trailhead for Covington Crest. Make a quick 5-minute hike to the top of Eureka Peak! Keep in mind cell service is spotty, so grab a map before you go. Plus, a side trip off Covington Flat Road will get you to Nolina Peak, at about 4,908 feet high.
A high-clearance vehicle is a must, and 4WD is highly recommended, especially after rain or snow. The road can get pretty rutted. The drive climbs to a peak of 5,173 feet, so expect some steep sections towards the end. You'll be rewarded with incredible views of Palm Springs, the surrounding mountains, and the Morongo Basin.
Where is it?
Traveling along the scenic Covington Flat Road in California is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 40.0042, -99.1585
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 15.44 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,496 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 40.0042, -99.1585
Related Roads in north-america
hardWhere is Gray’s Peak?
🇺🇸 Usa
Alright, adventure seekers, let's talk about Gray's Peak in Colorado! This beauty sits pretty in Clear Creek County, about 40 miles west of Denver. The prize? A super rough road that climbs to a whopping 11,443 feet! We're talking Stevens Gulch Road (Road 321) here, folks. Forget pavement – it's all about unmaintained dirt, rocky climbs, washouts, and potholes. Seriously, some of these cuts in the road are over two feet deep! You'll definitely want a 4x4 with good clearance for this one, though a careful AWD might make it. From I-70, it's a 3.4-mile climb with an elevation gain of 1,643 feet. That's an average gradient of 9.15%, with some sections hitting a steep 13%. Word to the wise: this spot is popular! During the summer, the parking lot fills up fast, so expect to see cars lining the road, especially on weekends. Keep your eyes peeled for oncoming traffic – things can get tight! Also, remember Mother Nature calls the shots here. This road's usually only safe mid-summer – think June to August – when the snow's mostly melted. Be sure to check conditions before you go; they can change year to year.
hardWhere is Rocky Bottom Lake?
🇺🇸 Usa
is a high mountain lake at an elevation of above sea level, located in , in the U.S. state of highest roads in California Where is Rocky Bottom Lake? eastern central part of California . It is well known for its Is the Road to Rocky Bottom Lake Unpaved? The road to the summit is Coyote Flat 4×4 Trail for larger vehicles. Only attempt the road with a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle slightly deflated tires, a spare wheel, and a proper height to navigate the rough terrain. How Long is the Road to Rocky Bottom Lake? The road to the lake is with an elevation gain of 1,949 meters (6,394ft) Is the Road to Rocky Bottom Lake Open in Winter? completely impassable during winter. The drive offers . Along the way, there are several How to Get to Brackett Prospect Mine? small, steep, unpaved mining road branches west, leading up to 3,368m (11,049ft) above sea level Pic&video: mksracing How to Travel the Phinney Canyon Road in Nevada How to get to the summit of Tucumcari Mountain in New Mexico? Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
hardWhere is Aztec Peak?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventurers, let's talk about Aztec Peak in Arizona's Gila County! This beauty tops out at 7,746 feet in the Tonto National Forest, the highest point in the Sierra Anchas. Heads up, the road to the top, Forest Service Road 487, is all unpaved, kicking off from the Arizona 288-Globe Young Highway. Keep in mind, this route usually shuts down from mid-December to the end of March due to snow, but it's all weather-dependent, so check conditions before you go! Now for the nitty-gritty: you'll need a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle for this one. Past the waterfall, FR 487 gets steep, narrow, and a tad nerve-wracking if you're not a fan of heights. The final stretch is a single-track forest road that's both steep and a bit rocky. If you're lucky and the gate's open, you can drive all the way to the summit! A word of caution: this area has naturally occurring uranium and radium-266. Translation: low-level radiation. Seriously, DO NOT go into any of the mines; some have radiation levels so high, they'd recommend evacuating the area! But here's the payoff: the views! Perched at the top is a fire lookout built in '56, and the 360-degree panorama is breathtaking. You'll see for over 100 miles in every direction. Tucked in the Salome Wilderness, it's a view you won't forget!
extremeHow difficult is the road to East Lone Cone Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: East Lone Cone Pass, Colorado. We're talking serious off-the-beaten-path stuff in Dolores County. This isn't your grandma's Sunday drive. Think rugged, remote, and ridiculously beautiful. Tucked into the San Miguel Mountains, a hop, skip, and a jump northwest of the old mining town of Dunton, this pass gives you a front-row seat to Teton Peak, that killer volcanic spire that just dominates the horizon. The whole area's got that classic Colorado vibe: endless evergreens, meadows bursting with wildflowers (when it's not snowed in!), and views for days. So, the road – Forest Service Road 616, aka Middle Creek Road – isn't kidding around. It's gravel and rocks all the way as it snakes west to east, linking up to Middle Creek Road. The real kicker? A set of 7 super-tight hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills. Seriously, you'll want a high-clearance 4x4 for this adventure. Forget your sedan; this road chews them up and spits them out! Now, timing is everything. East Lone Cone Pass is usually buried under snow until late spring. We're talking avalanches and landslides – not exactly ideal for a relaxing road trip! Even in summer, expect surprise ice patches and crazy afternoon thunderstorms. Your best bet is late June through September when the mud dries up, and the views are insane. But always, *always* check with the local forest service before you go. This place can shut down on a dime!