
Where is Keystone Mountain?
Usa, north-america
13.51 km
3,677 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! You NEED to check out Keystone Mountain in Colorado's Summit County. This road climbs to a whopping 12,063 feet, making it one of the highest in the state. Located south of Dillon, it's about 8.4 miles from the pavement to the top, with a pretty serious elevation gain of 2,713 feet. We're talking an average grade of over 6%, so buckle up!
Heads up: this isn't a Sunday drive. The road is unpaved, narrow in spots, and those climbs are STEEP. It can get pretty rocky and rough in sections, too. A 4x4 is definitely recommended! But trust me, it's worth the challenge.
At the summit, you'll find the historic Erickson Mine site. Keep an eye out: surveyors have spotted gold in the old ore piles! However, it's not maintained, so don't try to explore.
Sadly, it's impassible in the winter. But the views along the way? Absolutely breathtaking. You'll see the whole Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Seriously, add this one to your bucket list!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 13.51 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,677 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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