
Where is Blowout Pass?
Usa, north-america
N/A
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, so you HAVE to check out Blowout Pass! It's this crazy high mountain pass tucked away in the Rio Grande National Forest, in the eastern San Juan Mountains. Seriously, the views are insane.
Fair warning: this road is STEEP. We're talking brutally steep in sections β around . The whole thing is unpaved, but honestly, it's not too bad, just a few bumpy parts.
Starting near , it's about to the top. You climb in elevation, which works out to an average gradient of . Keep in mind that this road is usually snowed in during the winter. If you're looking for a peaceful drive with incredible scenery, and not a lot of other cars around, Blowout Pass needs to be on your list!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Difficulty
- moderate
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