Carretera El Espinazo del Diablo
Mexico's most terrifying mountain highway.
Carretera El Espinazo del Diablo — The Devil’s Backbone Highway — earns its menacing name through 50 kilometers of white-knuckle driving along knife-edge ridges between Mazatlán and Durango. This legendary stretch of Highway 40D clings to mountain faces with drops exceeding 1,000 meters, threading through tunnels blasted from solid rock and across bridges that span impossible chasms. The road reaches its terrifying apex at the Baluarte Bridge, the highest cable-stayed bridge in the world at 403 meters above the Baluarte River canyon.
Despite being paved highway, this route demands respect and experience with mountain driving — fog, rain, and rockslides are constant threats. Heavy vehicles and trailers face serious challenges on the steep grades and tight corners. Travel during daylight only and check weather conditions; winter can bring ice at higher elevations. While technically accessible to any vehicle, the psychological challenge and spectacular engineering make this one of Mexico’s most memorable drives, offering views that’ll haunt your dreams long after you’ve safely reached Durango.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | High Altitude, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 31 mi / 50 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8200 ft |
| Best season | October-May |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle (extreme caution required) |
| Nearest town | Mazatlán, Sinaloa |
| Land manager | SCT - Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock sedan or low-clearance vehicle drive El Espinazo del Diablo?
Technically yes — it's a public highway and regular traffic including buses uses it. That said, the road is narrow gravel with no guardrails on sheer drop sections, so slow speeds and confident driving matter far more than clearance here.
What time of year should I avoid this road?
June through September is rainy season in the Sierra Madre — the road gets muddy, visibility drops in cloud cover, and rockslides are a real risk. October through May is the window; dry, clearer conditions make the exposure manageable.
Do I need any permits or pay any fees to drive El Espinazo del Diablo?
No permits required. It's a public federal highway managed by SCT, so you drive it free. Just carry your standard Mexico vehicle documentation and insurance.
What's the hardest part of this road and what makes it dangerous?
The central ridge sections are where it earns the name — one-lane gravel hugging ridgelines with thousand-foot drops and no barriers, blind corners, and oncoming trucks that won't slow down much. The danger is the exposure and narrow width, not technical terrain; it's psychological as much as physical.
Is there gas or cell service along the 31-mile route between Mazatlán and the Sierra?
Cell service is spotty to nonexistent through the mountain section — don't count on it in an emergency. Fill your tank in Mazatlán or El Palmito before starting; there are no reliable fuel stops on the route itself.
Trail track
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