America’s Highest Highways: The Most Extreme Roads You Can Drive

America’s most extreme paved highways aren’t for casual drivers. These five roads climb above 12,000 feet, where thin air, sudden weather shifts, and sheer drops turn every mile into a challenge. Four of the five highest are in Colorado, with the fifth in Hawaii—each demanding respect, preparation, and often a capable vehicle. Here’s what you need to know before tackling them.

**Cottonwood Pass, Colorado – 12,126 feet**
The lowest of the five but still a serious climb, Cottonwood Pass tops out at 12,126 feet and stretches 57 miles between Almont and Buena Vista. Fully paved since 2019, it’s now accessible to two-wheel-drive cars, though its narrow lanes and sheer drops still intimidate inexperienced drivers. Open only from May to October due to heavy snow, the pass has no gas stations—fill up before you go. Locals say visitors sometimes freeze mid-route, overwhelmed by the exposure and altitude.

**Trail Ridge Road, Colorado – 12,201 feet**
This 48-mile route through Rocky Mountain National Park connects Grand Lake and Estes Park, peaking at 12,201 feet. Like Cottonwood, it’s open seasonally (May–October) and offers no guardrails over steep cliffs. Engine power drops at altitude, and altitude sickness can hit passengers. The road’s annual reopening is a brutal job—workers battle deep snow, high winds, and zero visibility to clear it each spring.

**Mauna Kea Access Road, Hawaii – 13,781 feet**
The only non-Colorado entry on the list, this 14.6-mile climb to Hawaii’s summit is brutal in a different way. The first 6.5 miles to the visitor center are paved and manageable in a two-wheel-drive car, but the final stretch is unpaved, steep (15% grades), and requires a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle. The total elevation gain is 7,149 feet over just 14.6 miles. In 2022, a Toyota Tacoma’s brake failure in bad weather sent it 100 yards into a ravine, killing one and injuring seven—proof that even capable rigs aren’t immune.

**Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado – 14,115 feet**
The second-highest paved road in the U.S., Pikes Peak Highway tops out at 14,115 feet and is infamous for its relentless switchbacks and no guardrails. The 19-mile route from Colorado Springs to the summit is open year-round, but winter conditions can close it without warning. Thin air saps engine performance, and sudden storms can drop visibility to zero. It’s a road that punishes complacency—one wrong move and there’s no recovery.

**Mount Evans Scenic Byway, Colorado – 14,271 feet**
The highest paved road in America, Mount Evans Scenic Byway crests at 14,271 feet and is a 28-mile climb from Idaho Springs. Open seasonally (typically late May to mid-October), it’s a favorite for its views but a nightmare for unprepared drivers. The thin air affects engines and passengers alike, and the road’s steep, narrow sections have no barriers. Like Trail Ridge, it’s closed by snow each winter and requires a Herculean effort to reopen.

These roads aren’t just drives—they’re tests of skill, nerve, and preparation. Altitude sickness, mechanical strain, and exposure to the elements make them unforgiving. But for those who rise to the challenge, the rewards are unmatched: panoramic views, bragging rights, and a drive few ever dare to attempt.