The road to American Basin is not for the faint of heart

American Basin is a high alpine basin located in Hinsdale County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Be aware of high altitude sickness, which can be life threatening.

American Basin

Part of the Gunnison National Forest, the road to the basin is totally unpaved. It’s called County Road 12. This road is not for the faint of heart, but the scenery is outstanding. The road meanders on the side of a deep ravine in some areas. Most of American Basin is above timberline and thunderstorms often develop in the afternoon in the Colorado high country. The area is notorious for its summer wildflower display.

The whole area is closed during the colder months. The road ends at 3.548m (11,640ft) above the sea level, on a small parking lot. Driving a 4-wheel drive and high clearance vehicle is best. The drive is pretty steep. Starting from Cinnamon Pass Road (County Road 30), the road is 1.44km (0.9 mile) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 90 meters. The average gradient is 6.25%.
Pic: Dave Rudloff