It is also one of the most dangerous sections during the winter, because of its steep grade and lack of guardrails. Elevation: 9,500 feet Get more stories delivered right to your email. Location: Cascade, CO to the summit of Pikes Peak in El Paso County. Elevation: 13,207 feet But watch out. Though it is one of the higher passes in Colorado, it has only a few switchbacks on the north approach and is generally kept open in the winter months. I have updated the article since you are right! Location: Connects Cripple Creek, CO and Victor Mining District to Florence, Cañon City and Florissant, CO. The drop is a sheer cliff in many parts. Photo courtesy of Ky0n Cheng via Flickr Creative Commons. Since it’s in such a remote area, emergency help might take a while, so drivers should be extremely cautious. At this elevation, the pass is one of the highest paved passes in Colorado. She secretly enjoys the cold weather in Colorado but complains about it anyway. Accessible from US Highway 24 and US Highway 50. Thanks for your comment. Why it’s dangerous: Everybody wants to drive up Pikes Peak, and you should make sure you go to see one of the most beautiful mountains in Colorado, but if winding roads make you nauseous, you’re going to want to slow down for this one. Highway 550 gets over 300 inches of snow per year. Why it’s dangerous: Feel the fear in your heart as you climb Argentine Pass to 13,000 feet and watch as the road gets narrower and narrower. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! Share YOUR roads!We've more than 13.000 roads but we want more! I hope you enjoyed my article! The speed limit is only 15 mph and only 4WD or AWD vehicles can travel on it. I originally wrote Silverton to Ouray since I was mentioning it was part of the Million Dollar Highway (which traverses from Silverton to Ouray) but your description is much more specific. Location: Traversed by the Million Dollar Highway (US Highway 550) from Silverton to Ouray, CO. Why it’s dangerous: Another, perhaps worse, segment of the Million Dollar Highway is Red Mountain Pass. Oh—and there’s no guardrails. Make sure you check road conditions before making your way. Photo by James Martinez. The fourteener is definitely worth it, but if you’re concerned, there is a train called the Pikes Peak Cog Railway that makes the journey more bearable. Location: Idaho Springs Visitor Center off I-70 to the summit of Mount Evans. Visit. Sure, the car commercials make it look like cake, but the lack of guardrails at an altitude above 10,000 feet in the winter is enough to make anyone put their hazards on. due to the steep 8% grade (slope) on the north side facing Ouray It winds up and down steep grades with a massive drop-off on one side. But be warned—as one of the highest mountain passes in Colorado, this gravel road is not for beginners. If you thought the other mountain passes and roads looked bad, the Wolf Creek Pass is actually the worst according to experts who rated it based on “snow, switchbacks, steepness, traffic, elevation, distance from help and frequency of accidents” in the Durango Herald. Location: Traversed by US Highway 160 between South Fork and Pagosa Springs, CO. Why it’s dangerous: Well, there you have it. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. One stretch of road, East Riverside, claimed the lives of three different plow operators between 1970 and 1993. Colorado’s Red Mountain is home to the most dangerous road in America, and a select group of people who risk their lives to maintain it. Elevation: 14,115 feet Thanks for the article! The four full-time CDOT operators work in all weather conditions, from freezing sleet to ferocious blizzards. Red Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.358m (11,018ft) above the sea level, located in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. Why it’s dangerous: If you want to make the trip from Denver to Steamboat Springs for some sweet skiing and hot spring fun, you better watch out—Rabbit Ears Pass sounds like a green circle run, but it is actually an icy slip-and-slide down a mountain. Why it’s dangerous: Considered the highest paved road in North America, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway is unsurprisingly on our list as one that you should prepare for. Elevation: 10,640 feet  From Silverton to Ouray you will not travel over Coal Bank Pass. Let’s hope these avalanche-dodgers stay safely at work for years to come. If it snows too much, this pass isn’t even drivable. The Million Dollar Highway goes over it. Yet none can compare with U.S. 550 over Red Mountain Pass, which has lived up to its reputation as one of the most dangerous roads in the world. With seven percent grades, switchbacks and zero visibility on most days, the Wolf Creek Pass is a warning for truckers who are told to “beware the wolf.” The writer of this post has unfortunately traveled this one, so you’re getting a first-hand opinion to stay away. No plow driver has been killed by an avalanche on the pass since 1993, but the danger remains. Why it’s dangerous: As one of the lesser-known national scenic byways, the Gold Belt Tour connects roads through a variety of scenery ranging from canyons to mountains. Location: Connects Kremmling and Steamboat Springs, CO via US Highway 40. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! Love Colorado? Location: Traversed by the Million Dollar Highway (US Highway 550) from Silverton to Durango, CO. Why it’s dangerous: The Million Dollar Highway, which is consistently named one of the most dangerous roads in the world, is nicknamed that because you’d have to probably be paid a million bucks to drive it. Your email address will not be published. The mountain views are stunning, but the little town of Steamboat far below in a winter storm is enough to make anyone want to throw up. In her free time, you can find her bothering her friends to go out, watching comedy shows or driving long distances to see something cool she read about online. To make matters worse, the road crosses 70 known avalanche paths…and has almost no guardrails. Elevation: 11,991 feet The scenery of the San Juan’s is unsurpassed and many call this area the American Alps. Coal Bank Pass does travel from Silverton to Durango. Legitimately called the San Juan Skyway, this nasty trek in southwestern Colorado features the Coal Bank Pass, a very steep and very scary road with weather that is harsh and unpredictable. 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To make matters worse, the road crosses 70 known avalanche paths…and has almost no guardrails. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. The drop is a … They receive a salary between $3,000 and $4,000 a month for performing what is arguably the most dangerous job in America. The scenery is beautiful but the road over it a scary. Marissa is a writer for 303 Magazine’s Travel, Lifestyle + Culture Desk. Luckily, a few brave plow drivers are just mad enough to tackle the task. Traversing tremendously steep cliffs and rocky faces, travelers have always put their lives on the line trekking between Ouray and Silverton.