
Where is McClellan Mountain?
Usa, north-america
14 km
3,996 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, so you wanna bag a peak in Colorado? Check out McClellan Mountain! This baby tops out at a cool 13,110 feet, making it one of the highest drivable spots in the state. You'll find it west of Georgetown, in the northern part of the state.
The route up follows the old Argentine Central Railroad bed – a seriously impressive feat of engineering from way back in 1905. Get ready for six switchbacks where the train used to zigzag its way up the mountain.
Now, listen up: this isn't a Sunday cruise. The road is 100% unpaved and rocky. You're gonna need a proper SUV with low-range to tackle this one. Expect tight switchbacks and some seriously challenging terrain. The first section, right off Guanella Pass Road, is probably the toughest part, so be ready for it.
The whole thing is about 8.7 miles from the pavement of Guanella Pass Road, and you'll climb over 3,000 feet – that's an average gradient of around 7%! Best to hit this one in the summer, when the snow's gone. And the views? Totally worth it. Plus, you get to check out historic spots like the old railroad remains along the way. Epic!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 14 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,996 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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