Why is it called Pennask Summit?
Canada, north-america
81.4 km
1,733 m
moderate
Year-round
Yo, road trip lovers! Let's talk Pennask Summit, a seriously epic mountain pass sitting way up high at 1,733m (5,685ft) in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Why "Pennask"? It gets its name from the nearby Pennask Creek.
You can totally drive it – it's all paved and part of Highway 97C, or as the locals call it, the Okanagan Connector. Heads up though, this pass is the highest point on the whole road!
It's not exactly a Sunday drive, though. You'll be facing some long, steep climbs, especially if you're heading west. But trust me, the killer views are totally worth it.
Good news, it's usually open year-round, but winter can throw a curveball with occasional short closures. And get this: it's the second-highest pass in BC!
The whole shebang is about 81.4 km (50.57 miles) long, carving through the Thompson Plateau. You'll cruise from Aspen Grove to Peachland, right in the Okanagan Valley on the west side of Okanagan Lake. Road trip goals, right?
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 81.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,733 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in north-america
moderateThe Matrix Reloaded Highway: How a Disused Naval Base Became a Hollywood Freeway
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, so you know that crazy freeway chase in "The Matrix Reloaded"? It didn't happen on some regular stretch of highway. They built the whole thing! Picture this: a decommissioned naval air station in Alameda, California, transformed into a full-blown freeway set. We're talking 1.25 miles (2 km) of pristine pavement, three lanes in each direction, all surrounded by a 19ft wall to look like concrete. The builders even added little details: logos referencing Gulliver's Travels, the number 101 popping up everywhere, and a sneaky exit sign to Paterson Pass (a nod to the production designer, maybe?). They even put up distant images of the city to complete the illusion. After the cameras stopped rolling, the whole highway vanished. Poof! Gone. They tore it down, leaving nothing but memories of epic stunts and bullet-dodging mayhem. A few chase scenes were filmed in Oakland, too.
easyThe Mysterious Light of Saratoga on the haunted Ghost Road Scenic Drive of Texas
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, ghost hunters and thrill-seekers, listen up! Bragg Road (aka Ghost Road Scenic Drive) in Hardin County, Texas, is calling your name. Picture this: you're cruising 75 miles northeast of Pasadena, deep in the southeastern heart of Texas, surrounded by the eerie beauty of the Big Thicket. This isn't just any road; it's THE most haunted road in Texas, they say! This legendary stretch of road, located outside of Saratoga, earned its spooky reputation in the early 1900s thanks to tales of a mysterious light – the Light of Saratoga. People claim to see this ghostly orb appear and disappear at random on dark nights. Legend has it that it's the lantern of a railroad worker who lost his head in a tragic accident, forever searching for it along this very road. Spooky, right? The road itself is an unpaved, super-straight shot that used to be a railroad track connecting Bragg Station and Saratoga. Built in 1901 and converted to a road after 1934, it's wide enough for two cars now. Expect a dry, dusty ride – unless it's been raining, then things can get muddy. Traffic is light, but stay alert, especially after dark! Clocking in at 7.8 miles (12.55km), this eerie route runs north-south between Farm-to-Market Road 1293 (near the ghost town of Bragg) and Farm-to-Market Road 787 (near Saratoga). Drive carefully!
hardHow to get to Crystal Lake in Colorado by car?
🇺🇸 Usa
Alright, thrill-seekers, listen up! Crystal Lake in central Colorado is calling your name, but this isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking a high-altitude adventure in Summit County, reaching a staggering 11,712 feet above sea level! You'll find this gem tucked away in the Mosquito Range of the Rockies. Co Road 2, a gravel and rocky path off Colorado State Highway 9, is your route. Seriously, a 4x4 is a must for this trek! Fair warning: Mother Nature calls the shots here. Expect the road to be closed from October to June due to snow. And even in summer, altitude sickness and crazy weather can be real issues. The road tops out at nearly 12,000 feet. If you've got respiratory or heart problems, this one's best admired from afar. But if you're prepared, the views from the top are absolutely unreal.
moderateIs the road to San Cristóbal de la Barranca paved?
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, picture this: you're just north of Guadalajara, ready for an adventure. Ditch the main highway (Mexico 54) and hop onto Mexico 23 – also known as the San Cristóbal de la Barranca road. Trust me, you won't regret it! This fully paved gem winds its way through a stunning canyon for about 44 kilometers (27 miles) from García de La Cadena. Get ready for some serious curves and steep climbs that'll have your engine working, but the payoff is HUGE. We're talking jaw-dropping views of the canyon walls draped in lush greenery. The scenery is unreal, a wild mix of semi-tropical rainforest vibes and cool cactus landscapes. Word of caution, though, if you're prone to motion sickness, maybe pack some ginger candies! Otherwise, get ready for one heck of a memorable drive.