Where is Lake Como?
Usa, north-america
12 km
3,586 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk Lake Como in Colorado! Nestled near Alamosa and the majestic Great Sand Dunes, west of Blanca Peak, lies this alpine gem. Getting here? Buckle up because Lake Como Road (aka Blanca Peak Road) is a wild 7.45-mile unpaved ride from CO-150 that will test your mettle.
Think seriously gnarly, boulder-strewn terrain. We're talking one of Colorado's roughest roads, and it gets seriously intense above 10,000 feet! High-clearance 4x4 is non-negotiable. Seriously. This isn't a Sunday drive; it's a pilgrimage for those with seriously beefed-up rigs. Expect some crazy steep sections too, hitting gradients of up to 26%!
This road climbs to a staggering 11,765 feet, so the views are out of this world! Think Sangre de Cristo Mountains in all their glory.
But here's the deal: this isn't an all-year adventure. Typically, the road is snowed in from late October through late June/early July. And even in summer, be prepared for sudden weather changes and thunderstorms. This is a trail you absolutely should not drive alone. Make sure you, and especially your vehicle, are truly ready.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 12 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,586 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in north-america
extremeWhere is Miller Lake in Montana?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: southwestern Montana, epic views, and a high mountain lake shimmering at a seriously high elevation. We're talking Miller Lake! Now, getting there is an adventure in itself. Forget smooth asphalt; this is a 10.3-mile (16.6 km) off-road challenge starting from Deep Creek Road (aka Mill Creek Road). You'll gain a bunch of elevation along the way, so you can imagine the steepness! Seriously, you’ll need a 4x4 to even think about attempting this climb; parts of it are insanely steep. You’ll be driving next to the lake, even crossing the small dam at the end! Heads up: this isn't a year-round destination. Winter slams the door shut with heavy snow. Usually, the road is impassable from late October until late June or early July. And get this—there are reports that the road is blocked with a gate these days! Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife though. Elk, wolves, mule deer, sheep, moose, badgers and coyotes are known to hang out along the route.
moderateWhy is it called Conway Summit?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, road trip lovers, let's talk Conway Summit in California's Mono County! This isn't just any drive; it's a high-altitude adventure reaching 8,143 feet! Named after a local legend, John Andrew Conway, this fully paved stretch of U.S. Highway 395 is the highest point on the road. Prepare for a feast for the eyes! The views of Mono Lake and the Sierra Nevada are seriously stunning. The drive itself is about 19.5 miles long, cruising north to south from Willow Springs to the town of Lee Vining, right on Mono Lake's edge. Heads up, though: being in the Eastern Sierras, Conway Summit is usually open year-round, but Mother Nature sometimes throws a curveball with temporary closures in winter. Snow can get intense! Want to go even higher? Just east of the pass, there's a little gravel road that climbs to 8,415 feet where the radio towers are. Word of warning: it's steep (like, 8% steep!), and you'll definitely want a 4x4 to handle it. Get ready for an epic adventure!
extremeRailway Engineering in the Canadian Rockies: The Rocky Mountaineer Routes
🇨🇦 Canada
All aboard for a wild ride through the Canadian Rockies! The railway lines here are seriously impressive feats of engineering, weaving through some of the most rugged terrain imaginable. Think massive gradients and shaky ground – it's not for the faint of heart. The Kicking Horse Pass is a legendary part of the "First Passage to the West." The original route was so steep (a crazy 4.5%!) that derailments were a constant worry. But engineers got clever and built the Spiral Tunnels. Trains actually loop *inside* the mountains to stretch out the track, cutting the gradient down to a much safer 2.2%. Then there's the Fraser Canyon, a dramatic gorge carved by the Fraser River on the way to Vancouver. The railway hugs the canyon walls, passing through the aptly named Hell's Gate, where the river squeezes through a narrow 35-meter gap. Landslides are a real concern, so the tracks need constant attention. Keep an eye out, because the railways often run alongside the scenic Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), especially near Lake Louise and Jasper. The railway sticks to the valley floors to keep those gradients gentle, while the highway climbs higher to cross the Bow Pass (2,067m) and Sunwapta Pass (2,030m). Both routes deal with the same challenges: avalanches in winter and unstable permafrost. The rail routes feature impressive steel structures designed to span deep glacial valleys. And get this: these tracks even cross the Continental Divide, the backbone of North America's watersheds. It's a journey you won't soon forget!
hardSitgreaves Pass in Arizona is a fabulous road if you are not scared of heights
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! Wanna ditch the boring interstate and inject some serious adrenaline into your next road trip? Then point your GPS towards Sitgreaves Pass in Arizona's Black Mountains! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about Oatman Road (aka Historic U.S. 66 W), a twisty, turning, 22-mile stretch of pure driving bliss (and maybe a little terror, if you're honest). Nestled between Kingman and Oatman, it's a climb to 3,595 feet with views that'll make your jaw drop... literally. The road itself? Let's just say it's intimate. Narrow lanes, hairpin turns that’ll test your steering skills, and zero shoulder to forgive mistakes. Oh, and those guardrails? Scarce! You'll be clinging to the side of the mountain with nothing but a few wooden posts and a flimsy chain between you and a serious drop. Keep an eye out for the rusted-out car wrecks serving as a warning for those who took a turn too hot. Expect a slow and steady pace. Some sections will have you crawling at 20mph, especially with that 12% gradient kicking in. Normal cars are fine, but big RVs? Proceed with EXTREME caution. Seriously, this isn't the place for them. And definitely skip it if the weather's dodgy or the sun's gone down. Allow at least 45 minutes without stops, but let's be real, you'll want to stop. There are plenty of pull-offs begging for photo ops, with glimpses of old mining ruins to add some historical flavor to the scenery. Just please, keep your eyes on the road while you're actually driving! Trust me, the white-knuckle drive is totally worth it for the bragging rights (and the incredible views). Get ready for an unforgettable adventure on Sitgreaves Pass!