Where is North Pass?

Where is North Pass?

Usa, north-america

Length

98.97 km

Elevation

3,100 m

Difficulty

easy

Best Season

Year-round

North Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,100 meters (10,170 feet) above sea level, located in Saguache County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

The pass, also known as North Cochetopa Pass, is located in the southern part of Colorado. The road through the summit offers scenic views through very sparsely populated land.

Is North Pass in Colorado paved?

The road to the summit has been fully paved since 1964. It is called State Highway 114 (SH 114). It is a well-maintained road that is open to all vehicles.

How long is North Pass in Colorado?

The pass road is 98.97 kilometers (61.5 miles) long, running from Parlin (in Gunnison County) on US-50 to Saguache (the county seat of Saguache County) on US Highway 285.

Is North Pass in Colorado open in winter?

Set high in the San Juan Mountains, over the Continental Divide, the pass is the highest point on the road. Access to the pass is typically open year-round, with occasional closures due to dangerous weather conditions. Snow can linger into the late spring or early summer, and the pass can experience severe winter weather. Travelers should be prepared for changing conditions, especially if traveling in the winter or early spring.

Travel guide to the top of La Sal Pass in Utah

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Lake Crescent Highway in Washington

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.

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
98.97 km
Max Elevation
3,100 m
Difficulty
easy

Related Roads in north-america

Where is La Mosca Peak?moderate

Where is La Mosca Peak?

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Let's talk La Mosca Peak in northwestern New Mexico's Cibola National Forest. This ain't your grandma's Sunday drive. We're talking serious off-road vibes on Forest Service Road 453, aka La Mosca Lookout Road. The road to the top? Think rugged, rocky, and entirely unpaved. You're gonna need a high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive beast to conquer this one, especially if it's been raining. Even then, it's mostly a late-spring-to-early-fall kinda gig. But if you're geared up right, you can make it almost all the way to the summit. This climb stretches for roughly , gaining serious altitude – we're talking an average grade of all the way up. And trust me, the views are worth it! At the summit, you'll find a cool lookout tower that's been there since the 60s. The views to the east, south, and west are simply breathtaking. Just keep an eye on the sky, because this peak is super exposed, and lightning strikes are common. Don't get caught in a storm up there!

How to get by car to Matienda Lake in the Northern Ontario region?moderate

How to get by car to Matienda Lake in the Northern Ontario region?

🇨🇦 Canada

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Northern Ontario, heading to the secluded paradise of Matienda Lake. This massive, pristine lake is tucked away in Matinenda Provincial Park, practically begging you to cast a line for Lake Trout or Smallmouth Bass. Finding it is a breeze! Just head north from Blind River, a cute town on Lake Huron's North Channel. The road, ON-557, stretches for about 22.4 km (13.9 miles) and is completely paved and in great shape, winding you through the heart of Algoma's gorgeous forests. A heads-up though: parts of the road hug the water’s edge pretty closely, so if you're not a fan of lakeside drives, maybe this one isn't for you. Otherwise, get ready for some killer views! And don’t worry about parking, there’s a big lot waiting for you at the end of the road, ready for your adventure. Matienda Lake isn't just about fishing, there's hiking trails, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming spots around nearby lakes. Time to explore!

The Chicken Corners Trail in Moab is a breathtaking road along the Colorado Riverhard

The Chicken Corners Trail in Moab is a breathtaking road along the Colorado River

🇺🇸 Usa

Okay, buckle up for a wild ride on the Chicken Corners Trail, located in Utah's San Juan County! This epic 14.8-mile adventure hugs the Colorado River downstream, serving up views that'll make your jaw drop. Ever wondered about that name? Legend has it, the trail's narrowest point overlooking the river was where the "least" chicken-hearted traveler dared to pass. Talk about a test of courage! The terrain's a mix of gravel, red dirt, sand, and sandstone, making it perfect for a high-clearance 4x4 SUV. While you might not even need to engage 4WD most of the time, don't even think about attempting this in a low-clearance vehicle. Prepare for a passenger's trust to be seriously tested. On one side, the river flows; on the other, a straight 450-foot drop. It's wide enough, but those high shelf roads can be intimidating! Reaching a peak of 4,475 feet at Hurrah Pass, this trail is generally accessible year-round, but spring and fall are prime time. Morning drives are especially magical for snapping those envy-inducing photos and dodging the crowds. This trail serves up some of the most stunning vistas in the Moab area. The view of the Colorado River from Chicken Corners is simply breathtaking. The road culminates at a dramatic cliff, where a narrow path leads to a viewpoint near the Goose Neck. Brace yourself for a few turns that'll have you peering straight down into canyons, but trust me, it's SO worth it. And hey, from Chicken Corners, keep an eye out for Thelma & Louise Point across the river – a nod to the iconic movie's unforgettable ending.

How long is Shelf Road in Colorado?extreme

How long is Shelf Road in Colorado?

🇺🇸 Usa

Shelf Road is an adventurous and rugged mountain drive spanning Fremont and Teller counties in the US state of Colorado. This is a great drive if you're brave and trust the person behind the wheel. If you don't like steep extreme drop-offs, don't take the road. It's very narrow in some spots, and two vehicles can't go through. How long is Shelf Road in Colorado? This narrow mountain road is 21.4 km (13.3 miles) long, running south-north from the city of Cañon City (in Fremont County), where it begins, to 21.7 km (13.5 miles) north of Cañon City, where it changes from Fremont County Highway 9 (Garden Park Road) to Shelf Road, to the city of Cripple Creek (in Teller County). The road is mostly unpaved and pretty steep. It climbs from 1,902 m (6,240 ft) above sea level to 2,863 m (9,393 ft) above sea level. The elevation gain is 961 m, and the average gradient is 3.80%. It is part of the Gold Belt Scenic Byway Is Shelf Road dangerous? Most vehicles should not have any issues from its start to its finish. However, if the road is wet or snowy, it could give any vehicle some trouble, and vehicles with all-wheel drive are probably best. It has great views but is a little scary in parts, especially when there is oncoming traffic. It’s a one-lane, two-way dirt road on the side of a cliff with blind corners. It's a dirt road that's often narrow and at times clings to the side of a hill, with very little room to spare. It’s a two-way road that is just over a single vehicle wide in many places. You’ll be close enough to shake hands with the other driver. The road is carved along the side of a cliff that is supposed to fit two lanes, but really only fits one. It is used by employees of the Cripple Creek gold mine (the large light-colored area on the satellite view below) who use Shelf Road to commute twice each day, are very familiar with it, so they travel it much faster than you’d consider safe! They can appear very quickly around any sharp turn. The really bad, scary 'shelf' part is the first three or four miles of Shelf Road coming from Canon City heading north toward Cripple Creek where it is the steepest and narrowest. When you are going this way, the passenger will be on the cliff side of the shelf looking down. Nervous passengers feel more comfortable when traveling south, as they will be on the wall side, and the driver will be on the cliff side. Check status before you go as roads sometimes close due to washouts or accidents. When was Shelf Road in Colorado built? The road was built in 1892 as a toll road, offers scenic views, and is good for all skill levels. Originally, it was a stagecoach route that delivered goods to and from Cripple Creek and Canon City. The road gets its name because it’s carved out of the canyon wall and goes up more than 100 feet in some places. Is Shelf Road in Colorado scenic? he road and the scenery it offers can be pretty spectacular given the steep pitch of the surrounding cliffs, with lots of hairpin turns as the road ascends, hugging the side of the mountain crossing over limestone cliffs with twists and turns through the area. Sightseeing is better left to passengers as the driver must concentrate on staying on the road and avoiding other vehicles. What's the high-speed pursuit of Shelf Road? Shelf Road was once the scene of a "high-speed" pursuit. At 9:30 pm on November 1, 2020, an armed fugitive from justice with five felony warrants led local city police from three cities and Sheriff’s deputies from two counties on a high-speed chase from Cañon City north through Cripple Creek by way of Shelf Road. One can only imagine the frantic, reckless drive up Shelf Road of one car followed by the many flashing red and blue lights that illuminated the dark along with the screaming sirens echoing off the steep canyon walls along the way. The fugitive fired at deputies and officers as he fled, crashed his car, evaded police on foot, and was apprehended the next day in an abandoned cabin. Just days after being sentenced to 34 years in prison he escaped the Teller County jail, and a manhunt captured him again four days later. Now he is part of the local folklore of Shelf Road. Road suggested by: Catrìona M. MacKirnan Driving the scenic Saddle Road in Hawaii Dare to drive the Yankee Boy Basin Road in Colorado 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.