
Why is it called Mirror Lake Highway?
Usa, north-america
124.24 km
3,272 m
easy
Year-round
Mirror Lake Highway is a very scenic mountain road running from Kamas (in Utah) to Evanston (in Wyoming). It’s a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.
Why is it called Mirror Lake Highway?
It is named for Mirror Lake, a picturesque lake that the highway passes along the way.
How long is the Mirror Lake Highway?
Mirror Lake Highway, also known as State Route 150, is totally paved. It’s 124.24km (77.2 miles) long, heading east from Kamas (in southwestern Summit County) to Evanston (the county seat of Uinta County). It was built in 1933. The drive, also known as Mirror Lake Highway scenic drive, is around 56 miles in northern Utah and around 18 miles in southwestern Wyoming.
Is the Mirror Lake Highway closed?
Running through the western portion of the Uinta Mountains, the road tops out at 3.272m (10,734ft) above sea level at
is said to be Utah's highest paved road. The road is usually open from Memorial Day weekend to early November, depending on the weather.
The highway is closed from the Soapstone Campground, 15 miles past Kamas, to the East Fork Campground, 33 miles from Evanston, Wyoming.
Is Mirror Lake Highway worth the drive?
Tucked away within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest,
it is one of the most popular mountainous driving routes in both states. Plan 2 hours to complete the drive without any stop.
Make sure you leave enough time to make plenty of stops along the way because the road winds through farm and ranch lands and rises to heavily forested, mountain terrain, accented by meadows and rugged peaks. There are numerous access points into the High Uinta Wilderness along this byway.
A drive to the top of Henness Pass in California
How to get by car to Carson ghost town 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.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 124.24 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,272 m
- Difficulty
- easy
Related Roads in north-america
easyWhere is Firehole Lake Drive?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so picture this: you're cruising through Yellowstone National Park in the northwest corner of Wyoming, right? You’re near Fountain Paint Pot, and you see a little detour called Firehole Lake Drive. TAKE IT! This short, paved, one-way loop dives right into a crazy thermal area – think geysers, steamy hot lakes, bubbling hot springs, and even a hot waterfall. Seriously, it’s like driving through another world. Now, this isn't your average Sunday drive. This little road is famous (or maybe infamous) because the ground gets SO hot sometimes it melts the asphalt! Back in 2014, it even closed down for a bit because of this! But don't let that scare you away. The views are absolutely unreal. There are tons of pullouts where you can park and gawk at the crazy natural wonders. Plus, this is where you'll find the Great Fountain Geyser. You can literally watch it erupt from the comfort of your car, which is pretty amazing. Just a heads-up: Firehole Lake Drive is usually closed in the winter. Also, leave your RV, bus, or trailer behind as it's too narrow for big rigs. And remember, Yellowstone is a geothermal wonderland with over 10,000 features and 500 geysers, so things can get a little…melty.
moderateHurricane Ridge Road is Washington's Best Driving Road
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, buckle up, road-trippers, because Hurricane Ridge Road in Washington's Olympic National Park is calling your name! This 20-mile stretch of pure driving bliss climbs to a whopping 5,082 feet above sea level. Starting near Port Angeles, this totally paved beauty, sometimes called Heart o’the Hills Road, winds its way up into the heart of the Olympic Mountains. Think lush forests and breathtaking views – seriously, keep your camera handy! Give yourself around an hour to drive it straight through, but trust me, you'll want to stop and soak it all in. The road is steep, and you'll even pass through a few tunnels, making the journey super exciting. Now, a word of caution: Mother Nature rules up here! Always check the weather before you go. This area gets a TON of snow (over 400 inches a year!), and the road can close without warning. In winter, it's usually open weekends and holidays, but always double-check. Tire chains are a must in the winter months. As you climb nearly 5000 feet from Port Angeles, you'll see the plant life morph around you, a sign you're getting higher and higher. Get ready for some seriously epic scenery!
hardWhere is Green Mountain?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventurers, listen up! If you're hunting for off-the-beaten-path thrills in New Mexico, Green Mountain is calling your name. Tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this peak boasts some serious views from its tippy-top. Fair warning: this isn't your Sunday drive kind of road. We're talking about an old logging road that's seen better days. Think crazy-tight switchbacks where you might have to play chicken with oncoming traffic, and a surface that’s…rustic, let's say. You absolutely need a high-clearance vehicle to even think about tackling this beast. The adventure clocks in around 7 miles from the pavement, packing in a lung-busting 2,700 feet of elevation gain. That's an average grade of 7.5%, but be prepared for some pitches that hit a whopping 15%! The road's usually snowed in until late spring/early summer, and even in the warmer months, loose rocks abound. But hey, the bragging rights (and those summit views!)? Totally worth it. Just keep an eye on the weather.
moderateWhere is Hawkins Peak?
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, picture this: you're north of Markleeville, California, smack-dab in the eastern part of the state, winding your way through the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. You're on the hunt for Hawkins Peak, reaching a lofty 9,688 feet above sea level—one of the highest roads in California! This peak? It's named after some dude named Hawkins, the first white settler around these parts back in the 1850s. He was a squatter on a cattle ranch to the east. Pretty cool, huh? Heads up: the road to the summit is unpaved and rocky, so you’ll definitely want a 4x4 with some decent clearance for that final push. It's not super long, but it's a climb. We're talking a serious elevation gain, with an average gradient that hits a max of 17.8% in spots—hold on tight! But the real payoff? The views from the top are epic. You can soak in the snowy Sierra Nevada range and the vast high desert of Nevada. Just keep in mind, this road is totally impassable in the winter.