
Where is Trail Peak?
Usa, north-america
12.55 km
1,085 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in Idaho's Lemhi County, waiting to test your mettle, is Trail Peak. This bad boy climbs way up there, making it one of the highest drives in Idaho.
Forget manicured highways—this is a rugged, unpaved mining road from a bygone era, about 7.8 miles of pure, unadulterated challenge. Think rocky terrain, and almost no smooth patches at all. We're talking steep drops, no maintenance, and zero cell service. A tow truck bill would probably bankrupt you. Seriously, a lapse in concentration could have serious consequences.
But oh, the views! As you grind your way up 3,560 vertical feet (with an average gradient of 8.64%), you'll be following in the footsteps of prospectors. The summit area was a hive of mining activity from the 1880s to the 1920s, yielding gold, silver, copper and lead. You'll spot remnants of Idaho's mining history all around you.
To conquer Trail Peak, you absolutely NEED a 4x4, beefy all-terrain tires, and skid plates are highly recommended. And one more thing: this road is totally snowed under in the winter, so plan your trip for the warmer months!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 12.55 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,085 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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