Why is it called Mount Elden?
Usa, north-america
11.9 km
2,841 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so you're heading to Arizona? You HAVE to check out Mount Elden! This beauty is a lava dome rising to 9,320 feet – seriously, one of the highest drives in the state. It's named after some pioneer dude, John Elden, who apparently loved sheep.
The road up, Elden Lookout Road (Forest Road 557), is totally unpaved, so buckle up and bring your 4x4. The adventure starts just north of Flagstaff on US-180, and it's about 7.4 miles to the top. You'll climb a whopping 2,200 feet – that’s an average gradient of around 5.6%. FYI, the very tippy-top is restricted, so don’t even think about hopping the gate.
The road conditions are, shall we say, "variable." It really depends on when the grader last paid a visit. Expect a narrow, curvy road with some fun switchbacks and hairpin turns. Keep your eyes peeled for oncoming traffic and mountain bikers—sharing is caring!
But is it worth it? Absolutely! The views of Flagstaff, the San Francisco Mountains, and the whole of northern Arizona are incredible. Fall is especially gorgeous. Just a heads up: near the summit, you’ll cruise through an area that was hit hard by a wildfire back in '77, which is a bit sobering.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 11.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,841 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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