Where is Wise Mountain?
Usa, north-america
N/A
3,854 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! I've got the inside scoop on Wise Mountain in the heart of Colorado. We're talking seriously high altitude here, with the road topping out at a whopping 12,644 feet!
Nestled in eastern Colorado, near a historic mountain cabin (built way back in 1878!), Wise Mountain Road #356 takes you right up to the peak. That cabin, by the way, is still maintained and stocked – pretty cool, right?
Now, this isn’t your average Sunday drive. This is an unpaved road that’s roughly 4 miles long, and you're gonna need a vehicle that can handle it. Seriously, make sure you have the right gear and are prepared for anything – you don't want to get stuck!
Oh, and a word to the wise: this road is a no-go in winter. Heavy snow makes it completely impassable. But, if you're visiting in the summer, it is very scenic, so get ready for some serious views!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 3,854 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
moderateDriving one of the highest roads of Mexico to La Joya-Iztaccíhuatl hut
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about La Joya! Nestled way up in the Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park, Mexico State, this mountain hut sits at a whopping 3,977m (13,047ft). Seriously, it's one of the highest roads you can find in Mexico! The road? Totally unpaved, baby! You'll start your journey at Paso de Cortés (already pretty high at 3,692m or 12,112ft) and travel 7.1km (4.41 miles) up. Be prepared for a bit of a climb, with some sections hitting a 9% gradient. You'll gain 306 meters in elevation, so your engine will definitely know it's working! While any vehicle can technically attempt it, I'd seriously recommend a high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Trust me on this. The road gets a little dicey right at the end – a rough cobblestone hill drops about 40 feet, so most people park before reaching La Joya itself. But hey, the rest of the road is generally smooth dirt, so you can still have a blast! If you're feeling extra adventurous, a smaller road north of the summit takes you even higher to La Joyita (4,009m or 13,152ft). Just a heads-up: the road is only open from 8 am to 6 pm. Near the hut, you'll find a parking lot if you want to hike to the Iztaccíhuatl volcano. Get ready for some killer views!
moderateWhere is Rollins Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Rollins Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.565m (11,696ft) above sea level in the U.S. state of Colorado. Where is Rollins Pass? The pass is located on the boundary between Gilpin, Boulder, and Grand counties in Colorado. It sits to the east of Winter Park on the Continental Divide at the crest of the Front Range southwest of Boulder. Can you drive Rollins Pass? The road to the summit, also known as Corona Pass, is totally unpaved with lots of holes and small to bigger rocks. It follows the path of an old railroad and is called County Road 80 (or Corona Pass Road). This road is not well maintained. A high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is required in the summer in good weather. The road starts a few miles outside the town of Rollinsville and comes to a dead end on the east side of Rollins Pass at the closed Needle Eye Tunnel, a short high altitude railroad tunnel. Is Rollins Pass open? Set high in the Southern Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado, the road to the summit, which was originally known as Boulder Pass, is usually impassable from November 15 through June 15 (depending on snow). How long is Rollins Pass? Starting at US-40, the road to the summit is 16.57km (10.3 miles) long. The drive is pretty steep, hitting a 9% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 782 meters. The average gradient is 4.71%. When was the road to Rollins Pass in Colorado built? This historic road over the Continental Divide was the original Hill Route of the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific Railway built by David H. Moffat in 1903. The first road through the pass was built in 1949. From 1955-1979, Rollins Pass served as a complete road over the mountain pass for automobiles until a rockfall in Needle's Eye tunnel in 1979 closed the path over the pass. In 1988, after several studies and structural strengthening of Needle's Eye was accomplished, the complete road was re-opened only to close permanently in 1990, after a rock fell from the ceiling injuring a Denver firefighter. Is Rollins Pass in Colorado worth it? The drive is worth it. It provides many scenic views of the lakes and the mountains in the area as well as access to the historical Needle Eye tunnel. The area is a popular recreational location for its spectacular views and wildflowers. A steep paved road to Tejon Pass in California Burr Trail is an unforgettable scenic drive in Utah 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.
extremeWhere is Mosquito Pass?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventurers, buckle up for Mosquito Pass, Colorado! This ain't your grandma's Sunday drive. We're talking about a 29km (18-mile) beast of an unpaved road straddling Lake and Park counties, hitting a lung-busting 4,026m (13,208ft) above sea level. Located smack-dab in central Colorado within the Pike National Forest, this historic route—once known as "the highway of the frozen death"—winds between Colorado Highway 9 (near Alma) and the old mining town of Leadville. Now, is it difficult? You bet. Expect tight squeezes where you'll be playing chicken with oncoming traffic, plus steep grades and narrow cliff faces that'll test your nerves. We're talking multiple stream crossings and seriously challenging terrain. A high-clearance 4WD isn't just recommended, it's essential. Leave the 2WD at home, folks. Budget two to three hours for this epic trek, crawling along at a leisurely 3 to 8 miles per hour. Open typically from July to September, depending on the snow gods' whims, Mosquito Pass demands respect. Rain turns it into a slippery mud pit, and snow can show up any time. Speaking of history, the road itself dates back to the 1870s as a toll road, but construction started in 1949. And the name? Legend has it, a mosquito met an unfortunate end during a town meeting, and well, the rest is history. Preparation is key! Pack extra layers because that summit can get brutally cold and windy. Because this is a remote area, you should also inspect your tires, fluids, hoses, and belts, and also stock up on supplies and fuel. You'll also want to carry at least two spare tires and tools, emergency flares, extra gasoline, motor oil, and wiper fluid. The ascent from Highway 9 is a leg-burning 15.77km (9.8 miles) with an average gradient of 5.64%. From Leadville, it's a slightly steeper 12.55 km (7.8 miles) averaging 7.0%. So, if you're craving a truly wild Colorado adventure, Mosquito Pass is calling your name. Just remember to pack your skills, your courage, and maybe a can of bug spray – just in case the legend is true!
moderateHints for reading Spanish road signs
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, picture this: You're cruising through the Andes on the Carretera Central in Peru. This bad boy stretches for about 220 km (137 miles), linking Lima to La Oroya. We're talking serious elevation changes, climbing from almost sea level in Lima to over 4800 meters (nearly 16,000 feet!) at Ticlio Pass – so get ready for some potential altitude sickness. The views? Absolutely epic. Think snow-capped peaks, dramatic valleys, and tiny villages clinging to the mountainsides. But hold on tight – this isn't a Sunday drive. Expect hairpin turns that'll make your stomach flip, narrow lanes barely wider than your rental car, and the occasional truck barreling towards you. Oh, and landslides and rockfalls are a real possibility, especially during the rainy season. Keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you! This road is truly an unforgettable experience.