Ultimate 4wd destination: Cronin Peak in Colorado
Cronin Peak is a high mountain peak located in Chaffee County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. An old mining trail west of the summit tops out at 3.914m (12,841ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.
Set high in the southern Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America, the road to the summit, also known as North Carbonate Peak, is totally unpaved, pretty rough and rocky. It’s called Forest Road 278. It’s a road that remain from the old mining days in the shadows of Mount Antero. The climb requires a higher clearance 4x4 vehicle at a minimum. The peak was named in honor of Mary Cronin, who in 1934 become the first woman to climb all 53 Colorado fourteeners.
Tucked away in San Isabel National Forest, the road is 15.1 km (9.38 miles) long, running north-south from Alpine to Browns Lake. The drive is very steep, hitting a 21% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. You will have good views of some of the high peaks of the area. The road is usually impassable from October to June.
Pic: Matt Lemke