A memorable road trip to Potato Peak in California

Potato Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.060m (10,039ft) above the sea level, located in Mono County, on the east central portion of the U.S. state of California. It’sone of the highest roads of California.

Potato Peak

Located within the Bodie Hills, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. Accessibility is largely limited to the summer season. It is not generally snow-free until late June or even July in some years. 4x4 vehicle required. Views of the Sweetwater mountains are spectacular from the summit. Excellent views to the Sierra Nevada Range to the West and the desert ranges in Nevada to the East.

The road to the summit is steep. Starting from the paved Bodie Road (CA-270), the ascent is 9.32km (5.79 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 609 meters. The average gradient is 6.53%.
Pic: Daniel Koopman