Driving one of the highest roads of Mexico to La Joya-Iztaccíhuatl hut
Set high in the Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park, in the State of Mexico, La Joya is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 3,977m (13,047ft) above sea level. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
How long is the road to La Joya hut?
The road to the hut is totally unpaved. Starting at Paso de Cortés, at 3,692m (12,112ft) above sea level, the road is 7.1km (4.41 miles) long. It’s a pretty steep drive, hitting a 9% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The elevation gain is 306 meters, and the average gradient is 4.3%.
How is the road to La Joya hut?
Open to all motorized vehicles, however, recommended for high clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicles. The road gets worse at the very end and descends about 40 feet on a rough cobblestone hill, so drivers tend to stop somewhere before La Joya. However, most of it is fairly smooth dirt. North of the summit, a minor road climbs up to La Joyita, at 4,009m (13,152ft) above sea level.
Is the road to La Joya hut open?
The road is only open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Near the hut is a parking lot, on the way to the Iztaccíhuatl volcano.
Road suggested by: Eblem Torres