Richmond Hill Road: a memorable road trip
Richmond Hill Road is a high mountain road located in Pitkin County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado topping out at 3.738m (12,265ft) above the sea level. The drive stays high in elevation throughout the trip. The road is steep in places.
The road to the summit, located within the White River National Forest, is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times. It’s also known as County Road 15E. The road is impassable in winters. Great trail for experienced wheelers. Stay away if you're scared of heights. Expect a trail pretty steep. Wet conditions may make for tough driving along the muddy road. There are some spots that can be muddy even in dry weather because of the shady conditions. The trail is suitable for stock SUVs with high clearance and low-range gearing. Best to go with another vehicle.
Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. The road is 12 miles long. It links Aspen Mountain and the Midnight Mine Road to Taylor Pass as it follows the top of a ridge that is fairly narrow in spots. The southern end of Richmond Hill Road, as you near Taylor Pass, is rough and steep with possible mud holes.
Pic: Master T