Where is Cumbres Pass?
Usa, north-america
75.8 km
3,057 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, listen up! Cumbres Pass in southern Colorado is a must-do for any road trip enthusiast. Nestled high in the Rio Grande National Forest, near the New Mexico border, this beauty tops out at a cool 10,029 feet. "Cumbres" means "crests" in Spanish, and trust me, the views are worth it!
This paved ribbon of road – that's Colorado State Highway 17 – stretches for about 47 glorious miles, starting near Antonito, Colorado, and winding down toward Chama, New Mexico. It's been around since the late 1800s, with improvements made in the early 1920s, so you're driving on a piece of history!
Now, heads up: this isn't a Sunday drive for the faint of heart. You'll be tackling some serious inclines, with grades hitting nearly 13% in spots! The north approach averages around 5.8%, while the south side chills out a bit at 4%.
While this pass is generally open year-round, Mother Nature can throw curveballs, especially in winter. Snow is common, and short-term closures can happen due to wicked weather. But don't let that deter you. The San Juan Mountains offer views you won't forget!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 75.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,057 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
hardApache Peak
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Apache Peak in northeastern Arizona's Apache County! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about one of Arizona's highest mountain roads, topping out at a cool 10,938 feet. Located within the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, this isn't paved paradise. Expect gravel and rocks all the way, as it's a service road/chairlift trail for the Sunrise Park Resort. Picture this: seriously steep inclines with loose stones under your tires, and it gets even rockier as you climb. The window to tackle this is tiny, think late summer (end of August). Oh, and did I mention the wind? It's a constant companion up here, and even summer can throw you a snowy curveball. Winter? Let's just say you'll want to pack your arctic gear. Expect some sections around 30% incline! The views though? Totally worth it. Just be prepared for a wild ride!
moderateThe Ultimate Road Trip To Mount Bross in Colorado
🇺🇸 Usa
# Mount Bross: Colorado's Sky-High Mining Adventure Want to drive one of the highest roads in the USA? Head to Park County in central Colorado, just west of Denver, where you'll find Mount Bross tucked into the Pike National Forest. This 13,356-foot peak sits in the stunning Mosquito Range and comes with some serious bragging rights. The journey follows County Road 787—also called Windy Ridge Road—an old mining road that's completely unpaved. The official drive ends near the Mineral Park mine in Dolly Varden Gulch, and honestly, most of the route is pretty straightforward. But here's where it gets real: as you climb higher, things get narrow and rocky. We're talking loose rock, tight spots, and seriously exposed sections that'll make full-size vehicle owners nervous. Compact SUVs and high-clearance vehicles are your friends here. Fair warning—the summit itself is private property, and owners haven't allowed public access to the actual peak since 2005. You'll see a no-vehicle marker about 150 feet from the top, so respect that boundary. The whole mountain is basically a patchwork of old mining claims and roads, which is part of its charm and complexity. Here's the reality check: this road is only reliably accessible during summer months. Afternoon thunderstorms pop up almost daily and roll across the peak like clockwork. Get up early and plan to be back down by noon—lightning at 13,000 feet isn't worth the risk. But those views? Absolutely worth the effort. You'll see other 14ers stretching across the horizon, historic mining relics scattered everywhere, and some of Colorado's most breathtaking alpine scenery. It's history, adventure, and mountain beauty all rolled into one unforgettable drive.
moderateWhere is Rollins Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Rollins Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.565m (11,696ft) above sea level in the U.S. state of Colorado. Where is Rollins Pass? The pass is located on the boundary between Gilpin, Boulder, and Grand counties in Colorado. It sits to the east of Winter Park on the Continental Divide at the crest of the Front Range southwest of Boulder. Can you drive Rollins Pass? The road to the summit, also known as Corona Pass, is totally unpaved with lots of holes and small to bigger rocks. It follows the path of an old railroad and is called County Road 80 (or Corona Pass Road). This road is not well maintained. A high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is required in the summer in good weather. The road starts a few miles outside the town of Rollinsville and comes to a dead end on the east side of Rollins Pass at the closed Needle Eye Tunnel, a short high altitude railroad tunnel. Is Rollins Pass open? Set high in the Southern Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado, the road to the summit, which was originally known as Boulder Pass, is usually impassable from November 15 through June 15 (depending on snow). How long is Rollins Pass? Starting at US-40, the road to the summit is 16.57km (10.3 miles) long. The drive is pretty steep, hitting a 9% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 782 meters. The average gradient is 4.71%. When was the road to Rollins Pass in Colorado built? This historic road over the Continental Divide was the original Hill Route of the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific Railway built by David H. Moffat in 1903. The first road through the pass was built in 1949. From 1955-1979, Rollins Pass served as a complete road over the mountain pass for automobiles until a rockfall in Needle's Eye tunnel in 1979 closed the path over the pass. In 1988, after several studies and structural strengthening of Needle's Eye was accomplished, the complete road was re-opened only to close permanently in 1990, after a rock fell from the ceiling injuring a Denver firefighter. Is Rollins Pass in Colorado worth it? The drive is worth it. It provides many scenic views of the lakes and the mountains in the area as well as access to the historical Needle Eye tunnel. The area is a popular recreational location for its spectacular views and wildflowers. A steep paved road to Tejon Pass in California Burr Trail is an unforgettable scenic drive in Utah 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 Trail Peak?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in Idaho's Lemhi County, waiting to test your mettle, is Trail Peak. This bad boy climbs way up there, making it one of the highest drives in Idaho. Forget manicured highways—this is a rugged, unpaved mining road from a bygone era, about 7.8 miles of pure, unadulterated challenge. Think rocky terrain, and almost no smooth patches at all. We're talking steep drops, no maintenance, and zero cell service. A tow truck bill would probably bankrupt you. Seriously, a lapse in concentration could have serious consequences. But oh, the views! As you grind your way up 3,560 vertical feet (with an average gradient of 8.64%), you'll be following in the footsteps of prospectors. The summit area was a hive of mining activity from the 1880s to the 1920s, yielding gold, silver, copper and lead. You'll spot remnants of Idaho's mining history all around you. To conquer Trail Peak, you absolutely NEED a 4x4, beefy all-terrain tires, and skid plates are highly recommended. And one more thing: this road is totally snowed under in the winter, so plan your trip for the warmer months!