Brains
The drive to the mountain is an integral part of the ski day adventure, setting the tone for the excitement and anticipation that awaits on the slopes. However, reaching some of the best ski resorts often means navigating treacherous roads that can test even the most experienced drivers. From steep inclines and hairpin turns to icy surfaces and unexpected snowstorms, sketchy roads can turn a simple drive into a white-knuckle experience.
We asked our readers: What ski resort has the sketchiest road to get to? With over 500 comments, these are the most daunting and dangerous routes to ski resorts they identified, where preparation, caution, and a touch of bravery are essential for making it safely to the slopes. Buckle up as we take a look at the roads that challenge drivers almost as much as the mountains challenge the riders.
#9 Winter Park, CO
The road leading to Winter Park Ski Resort, known as U.S. Route 40, offers a picturesque yet challenging drive that winds through the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains. As you approach the resort, the route ascends Berthoud Pass, a high mountain pass with steep grades, sharp curves, limited guardrails, and frequent changes in weather that can quickly transform driving conditions. Snow, ice, and gusty winds often add to the adventure, making it essential for drivers to be prepared for sudden stops, slick surfaces, and reduced visibility.
#8 Silverton, CO
The road leading to Silverton Mountain is as rugged and adventurous as the mountain itself. Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, the drive takes you along U.S. Highway 550, known as the “Million Dollar Highway,” which is famous for its breathtaking views and hair-raising conditions. This narrow, winding road features sharp switchbacks, steep drop-offs, and minimal guardrails, making it a challenging route even in the best weather. In winter, the road is often blanketed with snow and ice, requiring drivers to navigate carefully around slick spots and potential avalanche zones.
#7 Ski Santa Fe, NM
Winding through the stunning Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the road to Ski Santa Fe is scenic and challenging. Starting from the town of Santa Fe, the road climbs over 3,000 feet in just 16 miles, taking drivers through dense pine forests and offering breathtaking views of rugged peaks and valleys. However, the drive can be daunting, especially in winter when the road can become slick with snow and ice, and the steep, narrow sections demand careful navigation. Frequent twists and turns require attentive driving so you don’t crash into a snowbank and conditions can change rapidly.
#6 Kirkwood, CA
Access to Kirkwood is primarily via Highway 88, in the challenging Sierra Nevada mountains. The route winds through dramatic mountain landscapes, dense pine forests, and along steep canyon edges, with sections often blanketed in heavy snowfall. Known for its high elevation and exposed ridgelines, the drive includes a series of sharp turns, steep grades, and narrow passages that can be daunting in icy or stormy conditions. Chain controls are frequently in effect, and the road is prone to closures during severe weather, making it essential for drivers to be well-prepared with winter tires or chains, and a solid understanding of mountain driving.
#5 Mt. Baldy, CA
Known as Mt. Baldy Road, the winding mountain route leading to Mt. Baldy is notorious for its sharp switchbacks, steep inclines, and lack of guardrails in some sections. This can make even the most confident drivers white-knuckled behind the wheel. In winter, the road becomes even more daunting as snow, ice, and fog often reduce visibility and traction, turning the drive into a challenging test of nerves and vehicle control.
#4 Mt. Baker, WA
The road leading to Mt. Baker Ski Area, on State Route 542, is as rugged and legendary as the mountain itself, winding through the stunning, yet often treacherous, North Cascades. As you ascend through dense forests and alongside the rushing waters of the Nooksack River, the road narrows and steepens, with sharp curves and switchbacks that demand full attention, especially in winter conditions. Frequent and abundant snowfall can be heavy and wet causing icy patches. Spots with no guardrails can make this route particularly challenging, requiring drivers to be prepared with snow tires or chains and a keen sense of caution.
#3 Ski Apache, NM
Ski Apache is New Mexico’s premier southern ski destination, and the road is as challenging as it is breathtaking. The drive takes you along Ski Run Road, a steep, winding route that climbs over 5,000 feet in elevation through the Lincoln National Forest. As you ascend, the road narrows and twists with sharp curves and switchbacks, all while offering stunning vistas of the surrounding peaks and valleys. The drive can be terrifying when the road is clear, and during winter, the journey can be particularly daunting, with icy patches, snow-covered stretches, and the occasional fallen rock adding to the thrill.
#2 Bogus Basin, ID
From Boise, Idaho, the 16-mile drive leading to Bogus Basin Ski Area, is one of the windiest mountain roads you will ever encounter. As you ascend nearly 3,400 feet from the city, the terrain changes from dry sagebrush foothills to a mountain forest. The road narrows and 172 turns take you through a series of sharp twists and steep grades, often flanked by steep drop-offs with little room for error. In winter, snow, ice, and fog can add to the difficulty, requiring careful navigation and sometimes even chains or snow tires. You may need some Dramamine if you are prone to motion sickness.
#1 Powder Mountain, UT
Known for its remote location and untouched powder, the drive leading up Powder Mountain Road features steep grades, sharp switchbacks, and a narrow, winding path that climbs over 3,000 feet in just a few miles. It is one of the steepest roads in America with the five-mile section between the resort and the town of Eden averaging a 14% grade. This led to our readers identifying it as the sketchiest road to drive on. In winter, the road can be especially treacherous, with snow and ice adding to the difficulty of navigating its twists and turns, with some of our readers even claiming it as lethal.
While these challenging routes demand respect and caution, the reward of arriving at a snowy paradise often makes the journey worth it. So, as you prepare for your next ski trip, remember that a little extra planning and careful driving can turn a potentially daunting drive into the first exhilarating chapter of your mountain adventure.
Honorable Mentions
- Montana Snowbowl, MT
- Alta/Snowbird, UT
- Snowshoe, WV
- Arapahoe Basin, CO
- Wolf Creek, CO
- Bolton Valley, VT
- Eldora, CO
- Arizona Snowbowl, AZ
- Arctic Valley, AK
- Silver Mountain, ID
- Mount Cain, BC
- Schweitzer, ID
I would say sasquatch mtn resort, BC should make this list, mostly dirt road with chains mandatory
I know this is NA, but the title really goes to Portillo. When the access road is open it’s the exception!