Google Earth satellite image of route

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Rating: 2/10

While Kennebec Pass isn't technically a 4WD road, and while it doesn't go to the pass itself (how about that, huh?!), I am choosing to cover it because it is the main access road into the La Plata Mountains, a sub-range in the southwest corner of the mighty San Juan Mountains northwest of Durango. It's out of the way from the other more famed 4WD backroads of the San Juans, but I'll let the secret out anyway, this is one awesome area of its own, especially in mid to late July where this is a true wildflower hot spot in the state. The road starts about 10 miles west of Durango on Highway 160, a half-mile past the little settlement of Hesperus. Turn right (north) on FR 571, which is signed as La Plata Canyon Road. The route goes north for 13 miles.

A few miles before the end, a side road takes off to the beautiful Columbus Basin, which you might as well check out since you'll be in the area. Back on the main road, there is but one tougher portion, but even it should be suitable for a Subaru or the like. Once you reach the parking area at the head of Cumberland Basin, you can choose to park and hike to Taylor Lake and up to Indian Trail Ridge to the west, or hike east to Kennebec Pass, both along the Colorado Trail. The road continues up as a shelf section splitting off to the right from the Kennebec Pass foot trail and reaches a notch in the rock. The road continues down the east side, but the immediate right-hand turn at the top would be VERY tight for a vehicle, and the road ends somewhere down in the basin. I would've attempted it, but there looked to be snow covering the road a ways below on this particular July trip. Perhaps another time.

Hesperus Mountain, 13,232', had long been considered the high point in the range, but that was recently shuffled around with some additional surveys. The new high peak is Lavender Peak, 13,240'. Details can be found here.