Mountaineers like to talk about conquering the "Seven Summits", i.e. the highest peak on each of the seven continents.
Relating that concept to U.S. roads, I have several questions:
A. Which states have a road that travels directly to [EDIT - within walking distance of] their highest point of elevation? Three immediately come to mind for me:
Georgia: Brasstown Bald
New Hampshire: Mount Washington
EDIT - CORRECTION
Colorado: Mount Evans
Quote from: Kniwt on September 08, 2010, 11:17:44 AM
Sorry, but at 14,264 feet, Mount Evans isn't the highest point in Colorado (and the road ends shy of the summit as well). Mount Ebert is 14,433 feet.
B. For a given state that does not have a road directly to the highest point of elevation, is it possible to identify the highest point of elevation for a road in that state? If so, where is it?
EDIT - EXAMPLE
Quote from: Kniwt on September 08, 2010, 11:57:20 AM
the Mount Evans highway is generally accepted as the "highest paved road in North America."
Colorado: Mount Evans
C. Has anyone previously gone through this exercise and clinched/conquered the "Fifty Road Summits"?
D. I think the answer to this question begins in Death Valley. In a one-day drive (define "day" any realistic way you wish), what is the greatest possible one-day elevation gain for a drive in the United States?
E. To avoid being too provincial, I would also welcome similar comments re Canada's provinces, Mexico's states, countries in the EU, and each country in the Americas.
Quote from: Grzrd on September 08, 2010, 10:47:31 AM
D. I think the answer to this question begins in Death Valley. In a one-day drive (define "day" any realistic way you wish), what is the greatest possible one-day elevation gain for a drive in the United States?
Death Valley (-168 I think is the lowest the road gets) and then down to Big Bear, where I think the road goes as high as 10000 feet. Or across Tioga Pass, whichever one is 9800 feet.
For a more adventurous day, you can take off from Death Valley and make it across Eisenhower Pass on I-70 in Colorado and then maybe even up to US-34, which I think goes to nearly 13000 feet.
Sorry, but at 14,264 feet, Mount Evans isn't the highest point in Colorado (and the road ends shy of the summit as well). Mount Ebert is 14,433 feet.
Quote from: Kniwt on September 08, 2010, 11:17:44 AM
Sorry, but at 14,264 feet, Mount Evans isn't the highest point in Colorado (and the road ends shy of the summit as well). Mount Ebert is 14,433 feet.
Thanks for the correction. Is it accurate to say road to "near" top of Mount Evans is highest road in CO (maybe that's what I remember; it's been 5+ years)?
BTW, Brasstown Bald road also ends shortly before the summit; a Visitors' Center sits atop the summit.
I have never driven Mount Washington road.
For purposes of Question A, a road that gets you within short walking distance of summit will suffice.
what is the highest road on Hawaii? because it is well within a day's drive to get there from sea level!
I know one can go to the highest point on Maui within about two hours of driving time from the beach. It's about 11000 feet of climb, I think.
You can get close to Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee via one of the park roads in Smoky Mountains National Park.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=clingmans+dome&sll=35.592133,-83.460217&sspn=0.093666,0.101109&ie=UTF8&radius=3.41&split=1&rq=1&ev=p&cd=1&hq=clingmans+dome&hnear=&z=13
Note that the road to Clingmans Dome lies entirely within North Carolina!
Quote from: mightyace on September 08, 2010, 11:39:07 AM
You can get close to Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee via one of the park roads in Smoky Mountains National Park.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=clingmans+dome&sll=35.592133,-83.460217&sspn=0.093666,0.101109&ie=UTF8&radius=3.41&split=1&rq=1&ev=p&cd=1&hq=clingmans+dome&hnear=&z=13
Note that the road to Clingmans Dome lies entirely within North Carolina!
Ahhhhh! An isolated summit! :-D
NC 128 leads to a parking lot near the summit of Mount Mitchell, the high point of North Carolina and the US east of the Rockies.
Quote from: Grzrd on September 08, 2010, 11:26:34 AM
Is it accurate to say road to "near" top of Mount Evans is highest road in CO (maybe that's what I remember; it's been 5+ years)?
Yes, the Mount Evans highway is generally accepted as the "highest paved road in North America."
And for California, the highest road is Tioga Pass (9,943 feet) on SR 120 at the east entrance to Yosemite National Park.
If we're talking one-day drives, which in theory would be 24 hours, you could start just about anyplace in the east and head to Mount Evans, season and weather permitting, to experience the largest elevation change. Heck, starting in Bullhead City, Ariz., you're only at 640 feet and could get to Mount Evans in far less than 24 hours.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on September 08, 2010, 11:34:08 AM
what is the highest road on Hawaii? because it is well within a day's drive to get there from sea level!
I know one can go to the highest point on Maui within about two hours of driving time from the beach. It's about 11000 feet of climb, I think.
The road to the Mauna Kea observatory complex on the Big Island tops out at 13,780 feet, a short but treacherous hike from the summit at 13,796 feet. Another Big Island road, to the weather observatory on Mauna Loa's north slope, tops out at 11,141 feet (the Mauna Loa summit is a little lower than the MK summit; since Mauna Loa is still an active volcano with occasional eruptions, not a lot of interest in building a road to the top). The road to the Haleakala summit on Maui just barely reaches 10,000 feet, short of the summit (another short, but easy, hike) at 10,023 feet.
The road to Mount Evans in Colorado stops just short of the summit (another hike the rest of the way), but reaches at least 14,150 feet altitude, which beats the Pikes Peak road. I think makes the Mount Evans road the highest road in North America.
Alaska's highest road point is Atigun Pass on the Dalton Highway, at around 4800 feet. At Alaska's latitude, most everything higher is glaciated.
Mississippi's high point, in the northeast corner of the state, has a road to the top, but its elevation is only 800-900 feet. That, plus Mauna Kea, are the only two state high points I've visited.
On low roads, the road to the Badwater low point (-282 feet) comes within a few hundred feet of the actual low point, or at least the National Park Service sign supposedly marking the low point. My eyeball guess is that the road's lowest elevation is around -275 feet.
Quote from: Kniwt on September 08, 2010, 11:57:20 AM
If we're talking one-day drives, which in theory would be 24 hours, you could start just about anyplace in the east and head to Mount Evans, season and weather permitting, to experience the largest elevation change. Heck, starting in Bullhead City, Ariz., you're only at 640 feet and could get to Mount Evans in far less than 24 hours.
It only takes about two hours to drive from sea level to Hawaii's Mauna Kea, and with a greater elevation change (13,796 feet) than from Bullhead City to Mt. Evans. Indeed, Mauna Kea visitors are warned against driving up within 24 hours after scuba diving, since the rapid ascent can give the d(r)ivers the bends.
Alabama's highest point (Cheaha Mtn, 2,405ft) is located within a state park, and is accessible via a park road off AL 281. The road goes right up next to the high point, where there's (IIRC) an observation tower but also a TV station broadcast antenna at the site.
Maryland's highest point (Backbone Mtn, 3,360ft) is not driveable, but is hikeable, though the shortest publicly accessible (there's a lot of private land in the area) hike to it requires hiking uphill about a mile from US 219 in West Virginia (the actual high point is about 200ft east of the state line).
Minnesota's highest point (Eagle Mtn, 2,301ft) is within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, so you're definitely not going to find a road up to it. The nearest road is about 3 miles to the south, as the crow flies.
Virginia's highest point (Mt Rogers, 5,729ft) is not driveable, being within a designated wilderness area. But it is hikeable. The nearest road is SR 600, about 2 miles to the west.
West Virginia's highest point (Spruce Knob, 4,861ft) is accessible via a paved forest road off of US 33/WV 28 near Seneca Rocks. The road brings you to a parking area that is about a 900ft walk from the observation tower at the high point. I've been to this one and will eventually get around to posting my photos on Flickr.
Although I haven't been up there myself (yet), Vermont's highest point (Mt. Mansfield, 4,393ft) is hikeable via a 1.25mi hike from either VT 108, or via an unpaved road to the west towards Underhill.
So of these 6 state high points, only 2 have roads that lead to them.
Quote from: oscar on September 08, 2010, 12:26:47 PM
the rapid ascent can give the d(r)ivers the bends.
:clap:
let's get Mt. McKinley out of the way.
you cannot drive to the top of Mt. McKinley.
that is all.
Mount Arvon (Michigan's highest point) is accessed by old logging roads east of L'Anse. Fortunately, the Baraga County Convention & Visitors Bureau provides directions (http://www.baragacountytourism.org/Mt_Arvon.pdf) plus blue signs show the way.
Florida high point is driveable, hikeable and unforgetable :-D! http://www.takemytrip.com/destinations/lakewoodpark.htm
The highest point in Connecticut is actually on the side of a mountain (the peak is in Massachusetts). Apparently it's 1.3 mile hike to get there. The nearest road, Mount Washington Road, may well be the highest in the state.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on September 08, 2010, 11:03:32 AM
For a more adventurous day, you can take off from Death Valley and make it across Eisenhower Pass on I-70 in Colorado and then maybe even up to US-34, which I think goes to nearly 13000 feet.
Trail Ridge Road's peak is at 12,183 feet.
Quote from: froggie on September 08, 2010, 12:59:26 PM
Vermont's highest point (Mt. Mansfield, 4,393ft) is hikeable via a 1.25mi hike from either VT 108, or via an unpaved road to the west towards Underhill.
There's a road from the southeast which gets closer, but it's tolled, and it's closed after 5 PM.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.millenniumhwy.net%2F2010_SW_Va%2FImages%2F436.jpg&hash=80b684d3681a95693ab48a59c2634a425c97683b)
This isn't exactly at the highest point, but it's fairly close. KY/VA 160 as it crosses the state line.
I do not believe there is a road to the top of Black Mesa, the highest point in OK.
There is a county park road that leads to a parking lot right by Timm's Hill in northern Wisconsin. It's just off of WI 86, a short distance east of WI 13 at Ogema, WI.
Mike
This (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=NY709321&map=OSMap) is the highest paved road in the UK - 848m (2790ft), a private road to a transmitter.
The highest public road is the A939 Letch Summit (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/?view=NJ250119&map=OSMap) at 2110' / 644m.
This (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=NN418986&map=OSMap) used to be the highest public road in the UK, slightly higher than the Letch Summit, but I don't think it's seen use since about 1900.
The A689 (http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=NY798432&map=OSMap) is the highest public road in England, at 2043'
Highest paved road in the state of Washington is the road at Sunrise Lodge in Mt. Rainier National Park. It is at 6,400 feet.
Here is a list of highest paved roads: http://americasroof.com/archives/525
The list is not totally accurate, but a good starting point.
New Jersey's high point, called High Point, has a road that leads right up to a parking lot at the summit. It's about a 1 minute walk from the lot to the High Point Monument.
Quote from: yanksfan6129 on September 10, 2010, 09:31:36 AM
New Jersey's high point, called High Point, has a road that leads right up to a parking lot at the summit. It's about a 1 minute walk from the lot to the High Point Monument.
Is this the hill with the light shining from it that is visible on I-84 westbound in New York approaching the Delaware River?
Quote from: oscar on September 08, 2010, 12:17:18 PM
The road to the Mauna Kea observatory complex on the Big Island tops out at 13,780 feet, a short but treacherous hike from the summit at 13,796 feet.
Quote from: Landshark on September 09, 2010, 10:17:35 PM
Here is a list of highest paved roads: http://americasroof.com/archives/525
The list is not totally accurate, but a good starting point.
The thread is not limited to paved roads; nevertheless, the americasroof page is a great resource. The absence of the Mauna Kea road (unpaved?) from the americasroof list jumps out at me. Any other distinctions of note?
Quote from: hbelkins on September 10, 2010, 11:03:28 AM
Quote from: yanksfan6129 on September 10, 2010, 09:31:36 AM
New Jersey's high point, called High Point, has a road that leads right up to a parking lot at the summit. It's about a 1 minute walk from the lot to the High Point Monument.
Is this the hill with the light shining from it that is visible on I-84 westbound in New York approaching the Delaware River?
Yes, there's a stone tower monument at the top that lights up at night. To get to it, you get off at Exit 1 in New York, go into New Jersey on NJ 23 and the turn off to get there is a couple miles down the road.
Quote from: hbelkins on September 10, 2010, 11:03:28 AM
Quote from: yanksfan6129 on September 10, 2010, 09:31:36 AM
New Jersey's high point, called High Point, has a road that leads right up to a parking lot at the summit. It's about a 1 minute walk from the lot to the High Point Monument.
Is this the hill with the light shining from it that is visible on I-84 westbound in New York approaching the Delaware River?
I was once on 287 down near Wayne with my parents (I was driving), on a very clear day, and my mother claimed she could see the monument at High Point. Which must be 40 miles from that point. I've been to High Point with them as well, and you can certainly see lots of stuff from it, so it's plausible.
Quote from: froggie on September 08, 2010, 12:59:26 PM
Virginia's highest point (Mt Rogers, 5,729ft) is not driveable, being within a designated wilderness area. But it is hikeable. The nearest road is SR 600, about 2 miles to the west.
SR 600 runs in the valley. A little farther away but higher up is what I believe is the highest elevation one can drive in Virginia - VA 362 in Grayson Highlands State Park. A quick check of the DeLorme puts it in the 4600-4700 ft ballpark and there are not very many places in Virgina reachable or not that have this altitude.
S. Carolina's highest point, Sassafrass Mtn can be driven to the top, just of US 178 near the NC Line...
Mapmikey
Mapmikey
Can't drive to the highest point in South Dakota, Harney Peak, but you can drive close enough to hike, and the hike is about 1.5 hours up. Easy hike, too. However there is a road to radio towers that has to be pretty dang close to the same elevation, it is on SD-87 just south of US 16
Quote from: Michael in Philly on September 15, 2010, 06:20:31 PM
I was once on 287 down near Wayne with my parents (I was driving), on a very clear day, and my mother claimed she could see the monument at High Point. Which must be 40 miles from that point. I've been to High Point with them as well, and you can certainly see lots of stuff from it, so it's plausible.
that's very much plausible - it depends on the brightness of the light. I know I've seen the beam of the spotlight from the Luxor casino in Las Vegas from Glendale, which is about 55 miles. the light source itself would be significantly more visible.
You can drive right up to the summit of Mt. Greylock, the highest in Massachusetts, via a good paved road. Then you can climb up the monument that's located there.
You can definitely also drive to the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami, the highest point in Florida. :D
AR 309 gets you to Mt Magazine, then there is a county road which takes you to Mt Magazine Park. There is a walking trail to Signal Hill, which is the tallest point.
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 09, 2010, 01:19:56 AM
I do not believe there is a road to the top of Black Mesa, the highest point in OK.
Black Mesa is a large feature that lies within three states - Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The highest point on Black Mesa in Oklahoma is reachable from about a four-mile trail that begins north of Kenton OK. The trail, from what I've seen on a map, passes through New Mexico since the high point is just east of the border. (I've looked into this because this is one of several state high points within a days drive of where I live). The high points in Kansas and Nebraska, which both lie very close to the Colorado border, are both accessible by county roads and then private roads whose owners allow public access.
A little thread reinterpretation would lead us into a discussion of the highest points
on each state's highway system, whether or not at the state's high point, both on through roads and dead-end roads. Oklahoma's OK-325 would be the highest through road where it passes south of the state's high point. And, as cited above Colorado's highest state highway is CO-5, which ends at the top of Mt. Evans, while the highest through road on the state highway system is Trail Ridge Road (12,183) in RMNP. That is, unless you don't want to count roads under NPS maintenance as a state highway, in which case you would cite CO-82 at Independence Pass, 12,093.
In New Mexico, I believe the highest through state highway is U.S. 64 east of Tierra Amarilla at about 10,500 feet, while you can drive NM-536 to the top of Sandia Peak (10,678) overlooking Albuquerque. For California the highest through road would be CA-120, Tioga Pass at 9986 feet, and I'm not aware of a state highway that ends at a higher elevation. For Wyoming and Montana, I'm going with U.S. 212 at Beartooth Pass, 10,947 ft., though the pass is in Wyoming and so the maximum elevation in Montana is lower but still over 10,000 ft.
For some less spectacular summits, Minnesota's highest state highway point may be on U.S. 14 in its southwest corner near Lake Benton. The land in that area, an extended ridgeline called the Coteau des Prairies, comes very close to 2000 feet; this is an elevation only reached elsewhere in that state in the hills above Lake Superior. The highest point in Iowa is in the same geographic feature, so IA-60, which passes by it, probably has the honor at over 1600 feet. Kansas' highest state highway appears to be I-70 at the Colorado border, a little over 3900 ft.
For that contest, the highest in NY's system would doubtless be the Whiteface Highway, which is NY 431 and climbs to over 4500 feet on the eponymous mountain, according to The Internet.
Quote from: Grzrd on September 11, 2010, 09:15:41 PM
Quote from: oscar on September 08, 2010, 12:17:18 PM
The road to the Mauna Kea observatory complex on the Big Island tops out at 13,780 feet, a short but treacherous hike from the summit at 13,796 feet.
Quote from: Landshark on September 09, 2010, 10:17:35 PM
Here is a list of highest paved roads: http://americasroof.com/archives/525
The list is not totally accurate, but a good starting point.
The thread is not limited to paved roads; nevertheless, the americasroof page is a great resource. The absence of the Mauna Kea road (unpaved?) from the americasroof list jumps out at me. Any other distinctions of note?
The Mauna Kea road is paved at the beginning and the end, but steep and unpaved in the middle.
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on February 05, 2012, 12:39:43 PM
A little thread reinterpretation would lead us into a discussion of the highest points on each state's highway system, whether or not at the state's high point, both on through roads and dead-end roads. Oklahoma's OK-325 would be the highest through road where it passes south of the state's high point. And, as cited above Colorado's highest state highway is CO-5, which ends at the top of Mt. Evans, while the highest through road on the state highway system is Trail Ridge Road (12,183) in RMNP. That is, unless you don't want to count roads under NPS maintenance as a state highway, in which case you would cite CO-82 at Independence Pass, 12,093.
Hawaii's Mauna Kea access road is not part of that state's highway system, but is owned by the University of Hawaii, and Hawaii DOT helped with construction and maintenance. The Mauna Loa access road, which also tops out above 10000 feet, is a Federal Government road. The highest point on the state highway system is at the east end of state route 378 (Haleakala Highway), at 6721 feet, where it ends at the Haleakala National Park boundary (from which the road continues, under Park Service maintenance, to the Haleakala summit).
Louisiana's Driskill "Mountain" is only 535 feet so it's an easy 1 mile hike or so from LA 507 in rural Bienville Parish
Of course in RI, it would be RI-101, which passes within yards of the state's highest point, Jerimoth Hill.
In NH, the highest public road is the road through Jefferson Notch, which while unpaved and un-numbered, is a state maintained road.
I had thought NH's Mount Washington road was state-maintained. not correct?
Quote from: mgk920 on September 09, 2010, 03:36:58 AM
There is a county park road that leads to a parking lot right by Timm's Hill in northern Wisconsin. It's just off of WI 86, a short distance east of WI 13 at Ogema, WI.
If you have the proper gate key, you can drive a vehicle to the actual summit of Timm's Hill. I have done this on official county park business, thus making me one of the few people to park a vehicle on the actual summit of a high point. (I spent the summer of '05 working for Price County Parks & Forestry).
Quote from: agentsteel53 on February 06, 2012, 05:41:22 PM
I had thought NH's Mount Washington road was state-maintained. not correct?
Nope. The Mount Washington Auto Road is privately owned and operated.
Quote from: allniter89 on September 08, 2010, 01:46:08 PM
Florida high point is driveable, hikeable and unforgetable :-D! http://www.takemytrip.com/destinations/lakewoodpark.htm
That's right, Delaware! We have the lowest-highest-point in America.
Arizona's highest point, Humphrey's Peak is visible for miles and miles from I-40, I-17, US 180 and US 89. You can't drive to the summit, but from US 180, a side roads leads to a ski area called the Arizona Snowbowl higher up the mountain. Lots of beautiful aspens. Once you get to the ski area, start hikin'. There are lots of trails, one of which does top out at the mountain's summit, almost 13,000 feet.
Would be cool to be able to drive to every summit :)
Quote from: formulanone on February 08, 2012, 09:58:51 AM
Quote from: allniter89 on September 08, 2010, 01:46:08 PM
Florida high point is driveable, hikeable and unforgetable :-D! http://www.takemytrip.com/destinations/lakewoodpark.htm
That's right, Delaware! We have the lowest-highest-point in America.
The peninsula's high point is also driveable (and popular for biking), with much more prominence than that bump in the Panhandle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarloaf_Mountain_(Florida)
Quote from: texaskdog on February 08, 2012, 01:19:41 PM
Would be cool to be able to drive to every summit :)
By Interstate, no less.
Quote from: Beeper1 on February 06, 2012, 11:19:11 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on February 06, 2012, 05:41:22 PM
I had thought NH's Mount Washington road was state-maintained. not correct?
Nope. The Mount Washington Auto Road is privately owned and operated.
Same is true /w Mississippi's Woodall Mountain. That's in Tishomingo County, an area of the state that has the ambiance of mountain country without any real mountains. Has a lot of cute little hills, though. They look like models for something you might see in Virginia.
Woodall Mountain is 806 feet, I believe, and although there is a road to the top and sight-seeing access is allowed, the road is not state-maintained.
Quote from: NE2 on February 08, 2012, 01:20:43 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on February 08, 2012, 01:19:41 PM
Would be cool to be able to drive to every summit :)
By Interstate, no less.
where's I-366 when we need it?
Quote from: formulanone on February 08, 2012, 09:58:51 AM
Quote from: allniter89 on September 08, 2010, 01:46:08 PM
Florida high point is driveable, hikeable and unforgetable :-D! http://www.takemytrip.com/destinations/lakewoodpark.htm
That's right, Delaware! We have the lowest-highest-point in America.
No, Delaware's is 447 ft., Florida's is 345 ft. My drive to work has a higher elevation change than Florida's low to high points.
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on February 08, 2012, 09:46:29 PM
Quote from: formulanone on February 08, 2012, 09:58:51 AM
Quote from: allniter89 on September 08, 2010, 01:46:08 PM
Florida high point is driveable, hikeable and unforgetable :-D! http://www.takemytrip.com/destinations/lakewoodpark.htm
That's right, Delaware! We have the lowest-highest-point in America.
No, Delaware's is 447 ft., Florida's is 345 ft. My drive to work has a higher elevation change than Florida's low to high points.
He's personifying Delaware.
Quote from: NE2 on February 08, 2012, 10:22:27 PM
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on February 08, 2012, 09:46:29 PM
Quote from: formulanone on February 08, 2012, 09:58:51 AM
Quote from: allniter89 on September 08, 2010, 01:46:08 PM
Florida high point is driveable, hikeable and unforgetable :-D! http://www.takemytrip.com/destinations/lakewoodpark.htm
That's right, Delaware! We have the lowest-highest-point in America.
No, Delaware's is 447 ft., Florida's is 345 ft. My drive to work has a higher elevation change than Florida's low to high points.
He's personifying Delaware.
No one personifies Delaware like Alex Nitzman.
Me too!! YAY Delaware! :clap:
Highest point on the Nevada highway system is Mt. Rose Summit, at 8900 feet above sea level. This point is on Mt. Rose Hwy (SR 431) between Lake Tahoe and Reno. This summit has a sign touting it as the "Highest Year-Round Sierra Pass".
The next highest road point on the Nevada highway system appears to be Connor's Pass, at 7733 feet. This is on US 6/50/93 southeast of Ely, just a few miles northwest of the Major's Place junction where US 93 splits from US 6/50.