Argentine Pass Road
Colorado's most brutal high pass
Argentine Pass Road earned its reputation as Colorado’s most punishing high-altitude 4WD route through sheer brutality. The final mile to the 13,207-foot summit involves Class 5 rock crawling over house-sized boulders and loose shale that has claimed axles, oil pans, and pride in equal measure. This old railroad grade served the Georgetown Loop but now exists purely to separate the pretenders from the real mountain drivers, with McClellan Mountain’s jagged face looming overhead as you pick your line through the boulder field.
This is expert-only territory requiring serious armor: skid plates, rock sliders, and preferably 35-inch tires minimum. Spotters are essential for the final boulder section. The pass typically opens mid-July and closes by October, weather permitting. No permits, but bring recovery gear, first aid, and a satellite communicator—cell service is nonexistent. The payoff is standing at one of Colorado’s highest vehicle-accessible points and earning legitimate bragging rights in the overlanding community.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Extreme |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote |
| Length (miles) | 7 mi / 11.3 km |
| Duration | 6-8 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 13207 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with armor |
| Nearest town | Georgetown, Colorado |
| Land manager | Arapaho National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a lightly lifted 4Runner or Jeep JK handle Argentine Pass Road?
Not reliably. This trail demands a purpose-built rig — think solid axles, lockers front and rear, skid plates, and meaningful suspension lift. A stock or mildly modified vehicle will get high-centered or damaged on the rock sections before the summit.
When does Argentine Pass Road actually open each year?
Typically late June to early July depending on snowpack, with July through September being the reliable window. Snow can close it hard above 12,000 feet well into summer, and early September storms can shut it down fast — check conditions before you go.
Do I need a permit to run Argentine Pass Road?
No permit required as of now — it falls under Arapaho National Forest and is free to access. Standard dispersed camping rules apply on national forest land; no campfire restrictions beyond any active fire bans in effect.
What's the worst section and what should I actually expect?
The upper rocky switchbacks approaching the 13,207-foot summit are the crux — loose, jagged talus with no margin for error and significant exposure on the downhill side. Expect slow, deliberate rock crawling, potential for tire damage, and zero room to pass another vehicle on most of the upper trail.
Is there any gas or services between Georgetown and the trail, and what about camping nearby?
Fuel up in Georgetown before heading out — there's nothing on the way to the trailhead. Dispersed camping is available on Arapaho National Forest land around the Peru Creek corridor near the start, but cell service is completely absent the entire route, so download your maps offline before you leave pavement.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.