Mingus Summit in AZ: a road with several dizzying hairpin bends

Mingus Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.146m (7,040ft) above the sea level, located in Yavapai County, in the U.S. state of Arizona.

Mingus Summit

How long is the road to Mingus Summit in AZ?

Set high in the Black Hills mountain range, in central Arizona, the road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called Arizona Highway 89A. The pass is 31.70km (19.7 miles) long, running from Prescott Valley to Jerome. The winding road is curvy and hairpinned. It is very steep, hitting an 11% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps.

Is the road to Mingus Summit in AZ open?

Located within the Prescott National Forest, the road is usually open all year round. It’s closed only during the heaviest snows of winter. It has relatively cool temperatures in the summer. The summit hosts a rest area / picnic site. Parking is limited. East of the pass, a minor gravel road (Forest Road 104) climbs up to Mingus Mountain, one of the premier hang-gliding destinations in the Western United States, at 2.389m (7,837ft) above the sea level. The summit boasts sweeping views of the Verde Valley, the red rocks of Sedona, the City of Cottonwood, and Humphrey's Peak near Flagstaff.

 

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