A defiant road to Glacier Mountain in CO
Glacier Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.793m (12,444ft) above the sea level, located in eastern Summit County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Full size vehicles should not attempt to drive all the way, as there are a few very narrow spots. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.
Set high within the White River National Forest, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Forest Service Road #275 (Saints Johns Road). The road is not easy. A 4-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle with high clearance is required. A car with all-wheel-drive (AWD) will not make it. This trail provides a fairly easy route to the top of the mountain. The road is totally impassable in winters, usually until mid-June.
The road to the summit is pretty steep. Starting at the town of Montezuma, the road to the summit is 6.5km (4.03 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 649 meters. The average gradient is 9.98%, hitting a 21.7% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The top of the mountain is huge and flat, with plenty of parking. The views are amazing. It offers incredible views of Summit County and Clear Creek County peaks. The summit is covered with old mining roads and claims, part of Colorado's historic mining legacy.
Pic: Chris Knaffle