A memorable road trip to Melendrez Pass
Melendrez Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.763m (5,784ft) above the sea level, located in Pima County, in the south central region of the U.S. state of Arizona.
Starting at the paved AZ-83, the road to the summit is 12.87km (8.0 miles) long. It starts paved and turns into gravel the last 5 miles. The road becomes worst the last 0,3 miles, after leaving Highway 229. The drive is never too steep.
Set high in the Santa Rita Mountains, within the Coronado National Forest, the pass is also known as Melendreth Pass. It features many river crossings and some rocky sections, requiring a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Pic: Howard Rains