Argentine Pass Road

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.