Driving the road to Prospect Mountain in Conejos County is not a piece of cake

Prospect Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.724m (12,217ft) above sea level, located in Conejos County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads in Colorado.

Prospect Mountain in Conejos County

Where is Prospect Mountain?

The peak is located south of Elwood Pass, in the southern part of Colorado, within the Rio Grande National Forest. Near the summit there a few mountain huts.

Is the road to Prospect Mountain unpaved?

The road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Prospect Mountain Road. A 4x4 vehicle with high clearance is required.

How long is the road to Prospect Mountain?

The road to the summit is pretty steep. Starting from FDR 380, the ascent is 2.77 km (1.72 mi) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 218 meters. The average gradient is 7.87%.

Is the road to Prospect Mountain open year-round?

Set high in the San Juan Mountains, the road can get up to 30 ft of snow near the summit. It is not generally snow-free until late June or even July in some years.
Pic: Sheepshead Cabin

 

 

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