The highest highways in America are not for the faint of heart

America is a huge place, and it’s full of exciting roads that many of us dream of driving one day. We’ve asked in the past about your favorite driving roads, and the answers varied from California’s Pacific Coast Highway to the Downtown LA Interstate, as well as any road in the Finger Lakes.

Although they are all spectacular for one reason or another, there are some driving roads that only appeal to those with the most adventurous souls. These are the highest highways in the US, and with peaks rising 12,000 feet or more in the north, these roads pose unique challenges.

Those challenges include adverse weather, visibility concerns and altitude issues that will affect the vehicles as well as the occupants. Nevertheless, very few of them are regularly classified as truly dangerous driving roads. And so – with a little common sense and planning ahead – motivated motorists looking for a unique experience can tackle them quite safely.

Below, we’ve highlighted the five highest paved roads in the US, and interestingly, four of them are found in the state of Colorado, while the others require air travel. So, for an adventure at altitude, a trip to Colorado seems to be the best option, and with Pikes Peak itself in the top five, these highways are definitely not for the faint of heart.

Topping our list is Colorado’s Cottonwood Pass, with a maximum elevation of 12,126 feet. It is actually relatively easy to overcome, especially since 2019, when the paving of the entire road was completed. Before that, the Almont side was dirt. Now, you can easily manage this in a two-wheel-drive car, while other more challenging roads may require, or at least benefit from, the capability of a four-wheel or all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Yet, even on such a relatively easy road, some problems arise when driving at altitude. Snowfall prevents the road from being open year-round – instead, it is only drivable from May to October, so anyone who wants to try it will need to time the trip during the warmer months. There are also no gas stations on the 57-mile pass, so drivers must fill up with gas in advance to avoid long waits for recuperation on the remote highway.

Despite being paved and not as high as the other roads on this list, Cottonwood Pass is still not worth a trip into the park for inexperienced drivers. In some areas, the road can be incredibly narrow, and when coupled with the huge drops, it is no surprise that locals report incidents of visitors stopping at the side of the pass for fear of moving forward.

Just past the 75-foot-high peak is Colorado’s Trail Ridge Road. It connects the two cities, Grand Lake and Estes Park, through the Rocky Mountain National Park. As is the case with Cottonwood Pass, and indeed many roads within the US that are located at such elevations, Trail Ridge Road is only open from May to October.

Naturally, sitting at such a close altitude to the above pass, many of the same issues apply here too. This is a road that can get a lot of snowfall, and at 12,000 feet, the altitude will start to play its part in reducing your car’s engine power, as well as creating a risk of altitude sickness for anyone sitting in it.

However, the appeal of the road is clear. While much of the Rocky Mountains must be explored on foot by experienced hikers, this road allows others to see its majesty in relative comfort. We say this relative, because on many slopes of the road there are no guardrails to keep unruly vehicles from turning. There’s no doubt that it’s an idea that’s scary enough to keep many motorists away, but even more fear-inducing is the idea of ​​having to clear snow every year to open the road.

Experienced personnel will have to complete this work before the road opens. With strong winds, poor visibility and snow-covered shores, it’s a dangerous task that surely only a few people would envy.

This access road is different from the rest – not only is it the only road found outside of Colorado, but it is also not a completely paved highway. At 14.6 miles long, it’s considerably shorter than the other roads on the list, but unfortunately for those who want to tackle it easily, that simply means that elevation has to be crammed into a tight space. In other words, the slope of this road, especially near the summit, is actually quite steep. It reaches a maximum grade of 15%, averages 9.27%, and, across those 14.6 miles, has a total elevation gain of 7,149 feet.

Most of it is paved, but sections towards the top – past the visitor center – are unpaved, and require a capable four-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle to tackle this specific road. For those who want to experience the road but skip the more dangerous aspects, the first 6.5 miles to the visitor center are easier to traverse in comparison, and can be tackled with a two-wheel-drive vehicle.

However, it’s worth noting that four-wheel-drive vehicles can also fall victim to the challenging nature of the road. In 2022, a Toyota Tacoma experienced brake failure in inclement weather, resulting in a fall into a 100-yard ditch. Unfortunately, it was a fatal accident, and seven others were injured, so Hawaii’s highest road really isn’t for the faint of heart.

This entry probably won’t be a surprise to many, because not only is the Pikes Peak Highway the second highest in the US, but it’s also a brutal and unforgiving mountain road that refuses to play favorites. It hosts the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, an event that has seen drivers and automakers battle it out to achieve the fastest time up the hill for over a century.

The incident has claimed the lives of seven people in its 110-year past, four of whom were motorcyclists. So, this is definitely not an event or indeed a highway for the faint of heart. Naturally, getting onto a curved section of road as quickly as possible increases the danger factor, but it’s also not a walk in the park for regular traffic.

In fact, the lower half of the route is actually quite a nice, scenic drive, with two clear lanes and plenty of lovely native trees to protect motorists from views that would reveal the height of the climb. At an altitude of about 12,500 feet, the trees disappear, and sheer drops appear in view. The road is also narrow and there is no railing for safety.

Towards the top, it is common to see brake-check points, where rangers will inspect the brakes of passing vehicles to ensure they are not too hot and at risk of failing. Altitude sickness is also a real possibility, reinforcing the idea that the Pikes Peak Highway is not a journey to be undertaken without any preparation.

This specific stretch of road, which until recently was closed for most of the 2-year period for construction work, holds the title of the highest paved road in North America. Its peak elevation is 14,130 feet, it is 28 miles long, and climbs to an altitude of more than 7,000 feet.

Naturally, many of the risks arising from other roads also apply here: low oxygen levels that can induce altitude sickness, reduced vehicle performance, and exposure to adverse weather play a role. There are also no guardrails, and – due to the narrow and winding nature of the road – vehicles over 30 feet in length are prohibited.

The use of engine-braking is strongly advised to help the brakes maintain their effectiveness. There are several stopping points located along the roadway for vehicles to relax their brakes. Interestingly, despite its higher altitude compared to other roads, the slope here is not as steep, averaging 4.54% over the entire route.

Before the road was closed, locals noticed that some parts were breaking. Construction work has been scheduled to address such deterioration, so, although it is still not a road for the faint of heart, for those who are up to the challenge, the byway should now be safer than in previous years. Access to the road requires a timed ticket, which helps break up traffic and reduce environmental damage.