Where is Corkscrew Pass?
Usa, north-america
8 km
3,732 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in southwestern Colorado, deep in the Uncompahgre National Forest, ready for an off-road adventure. You're about to tackle Corkscrew Pass!
This baby clocks in at about 5 miles (8km) long, and it's not for the faint of heart. We're talking a climb up to a whopping 12,244 feet (3,732m) above sea level! You'll need a short-wheelbase 4x4 with high clearance to make it. This ain’t a Sunday drive in your sedan! This used to be a rough trail built back in the early 1880s to connect Silverton to the mines on Red Mountain.
The road, known as Corkscrew Gulch Trail, is mostly unpaved and includes County Road 20A and County Road 11. The road is wide and graded most of the way but it gets steep and rough with some super-tight switchbacks—especially near the top! Be extra cautious because one wrong move could send you tumbling down a cliff. It's usually dry and easy, but after it rains, the clay soil turns super slick, making things much trickier. Keep an eye out for logging trucks at the lower part of the trail. The pass is usually snowed in from November to June.
But trust me, the views are WORTH IT! You'll get an incredible bird's-eye view of Como Lake. This route is incredibly scenic, with a fantastic perspective of nature's flora and fauna. In the fall, the aspen trees in the Ironton valley turn the landscape into a golden paradise. Be prepared for company, it’s a popular trail. Bring your camera, because you'll want to capture every moment of this epic journey!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 8 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,732 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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