A memorable road trip to Apache Summit

Apache Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.318m (7,604ft) above the sea level, located in Lincoln County, in the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Apache Summit

Set high in the Sierra Blanca Mountains, within the Mescalero Reservation, the road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called US Highway 70. It is a nice wide highway with little traffic. Open to traffic throughout the year. May be closed for short periods in winter when the weather is bad.

The pass road is 28.32km (17.6 miles) long, running from Ruidoso Downs (in Lincoln County) to Mescalero (in Otero County). The drive is pretty steep, hitting a 12.9% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps.

 

 

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