Ultimate 4wd destination: Hurricane Basin in CO

Hurricane Basin is a beautiful basin at an elevation of 3.776m (12,388ft) above the sea level, located in Hinsdale County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The trail is a bit rocky, and in some sections it is narrow with a severe drop off to one side. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.

Hurricane Basin

Nestled high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the rough road to the summit is totally unpaved and pretty rocky. It’s called County Road 21. It is maintained by Hinsdale County and is usually graded every few years. This trail is highly recommended if you enjoy old mining buildings and high mountain views.

This road is usually closed from late October through late June or early July (depending on snow). It is not generally snow-free until late June or even July in some years. It can often be treacherous, with ice and snow accumulating even in the summer, so exercise caution as you make your way. A high clearance 4WD vehicle capable of handling the extreme terrain is required. The drive offers gorgeous views.

Starting at Million Dollar Highway, the road is 16.89km (10.5 miles) long. It’s really steep, hitting a 22% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The summit hosts the Golconda Boarding House and Compressor House, two buildings unlike any other. The mine produced gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper. Structures were stabilized in 2014 and some portions were completely rebuilt. Beyond the little museum, the road continues higher to a remote location where the trail ends, at 3.858m (12,657ft) above the sea level.
Pic: Trail Sections

 

 

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