Where is Cyclone Pass?
Usa, north-america
20.9 km
3,212 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so you're up for a serious off-road adventure? Cyclone Pass in Wyoming is calling your name! Nestled in the Shoshone National Forest, this bad boy tops out at a whopping 10,538 feet, making it one of the highest roads in the state.
Forget pavement – we're talking 13 miles of super rough, unpaved road with technical, rocky sections that'll put your skills to the test. You'll NEED a high-clearance 4x4 for this one. Expect some seriously steep climbs too – you'll be hitting some pretty gnarly grades as you crawl your way up.
The views? Totally worth it. You'll be treated to incredible vistas of the surrounding peaks.
Word of warning: this isn't a year-round kind of trip. The road's usually only open from late June to mid-October because winter turns it into an impassable, snowy wonderland. So plan accordingly and get ready for a wild ride!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 20.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,212 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in north-america
hardWhat’s Gum Alley?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so, there's this seriously weird and kinda gross but totally fascinating tourist spot in California called Gum Alley. Picture this: a narrow alley, tucked away between Garden Street and Broad Street in San Luis Obispo, that’s about 70 feet long and has walls coated in layers upon layers of chewed gum – we're talking 15-feet high! No one really knows how it started. Legend says it was a competition between students back in the day, or maybe just a random trend that took off. Whatever the origin, people have been sticking their gum there forever, creating this crazy colorful (and yeah, kinda gross) mosaic. You'll even see people have made words, pictures, the whole shebang. Featured on TV and in travel blogs, it’s known as one of the germiest tourist spots in the U.S. The city's even tried to clean it, but it's become an embraced tourist destination. It’s a must-snap photo spot, if you can handle the, um, aroma. Access is easy with a fully paved road.
hardWhere is Sundance Mountain?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so you’re heading to northern Idaho? Sundance Mountain is calling your name! This peak, nestled in Bonner County near the Washington border within the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, tops out at 6,279 feet. Now, this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road is about 7.9 miles long, and boy, does it climb! You're looking at an average gradient of nearly 9%, gaining over 3,700 feet in elevation. Translation? Steep! The road is unpaved and gnarly. We're talking fallen trees, overgrown brush, and enough rocks to make you question your life choices. High clearance and 4x4 are non-negotiable unless you fancy walking. And forget about it in winter – snow makes it impassable. Why go through all this trouble? The views, people, the views! Think sweeping panoramas of Priest Lake and the surrounding mountain ranges. It's seriously Insta-worthy. Plus, there’s a fire lookout tower built back in '35 waiting for you at the summit. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, too – you might just spot a deer or even a moose along the way. Just remember, this mountain has a history. A massive wildfire swept through here in '67, so expect to see a landscape still recovering, with ghostly, fire-scorched trees dotting the slopes.
hardIs Whiskey Pass in Colorado unpaved?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, fellow adventurers, let's talk Whiskey Pass in Colorado! This beast of a mountain pass sits way up high in Costilla County, clocking in at a lung-busting 11,633 feet above sea level. Heads up: you'll find this road, County Road L7 (Whiskey Pass Road), on private land, so access can be tricky. The first 5 miles are smooth sailing on pavement. Then BAM! Gravel and rocks. You'll want a 4WD for this one. Speaking of tricky, Mother Nature calls the shots here. Expect washouts and plan on the pass being snowed in from October to June – weather depending, of course. The adventure starts south of San Pedro and stretches for about 15.4 miles. In that distance, you'll climb a whopping 3,543 feet, making for a pretty intense average gradient of 4.35%. Get ready for some stunning views – if you dare to take your eyes off the road!
hardRoad trip guide: Conquering the Music Pass in Colorado
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're cruising around Custer County, Colorado, and you've got a serious itch for some off-road action, Music Pass is calling your name! Nestled high in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, inside the San Isabel National Forest in the San Luis Valley, this pass tops out at a breathtaking 10,695 feet. The road to the top? It's all dirt, baby! Music Pass Road is rough and rugged, with steep climbs, narrow stretches, and some seriously rocky terrain that'll test your driving skills – think driving over weird rock formations. You'll definitely want a high-clearance vehicle with 4WD or AWD to conquer this beast. Word to the wise: Mother Nature's got a wild side up here. Expect crazy-fast weather changes, year-round. Seriously, pack for anything, including surprise summer snowstorms. The road usually stays buried in snow until late June or even July! But hey, the views! Prepare to be blown away by the stunning vistas of Tijeras and Cleveland Peaks. The road dead-ends at a parking lot for the Music Pass Trailhead (room for about 15 cars), only about a mile from the actual pass. Back in the day, the hardcore could drive all the way to the summit. Now, the old road's pretty much disappeared.