Blowout Pass - SUV Friendly?

[James Dziezynski]

I am thinking of taking my young border collie on a nice tundra walk this upcoming weekend and was thinking about the traverse from Sheep > Bennett off Blowout Pass.

I'm having a hard time getting accurate info on the road. Is it passable with a stock 4Runner? Anyone been up there recently? From what I can find, it looks to be a steep but relatively benign 4x4 road. THanks!

[Jon Frohlich]

From the north it's fine and you won't have any issues. The south approach is narrow and rather sketchy. Still doable but running into any other traffic would be a big problem.

[9patrickmurphy]

I went up this road from Jasper (south side) with a friend in their Xterra in June of 2021. It seemed totally Subaruable then.

[James Dziezynski]

From the north it's fine and you won't have any issues. The south approach is narrow and rather sketchy. Still doable but running into any other traffic would be a big problem.

Thanks for this. Where is the north approach? The only approach I can find is from the south out of Jasper. Is that what you mean (driving north vs approaching from the north?) I've called the Conejos Ranger Station a couple of times, somebody answers the phone then promptly hangs up

[Jon Frohlich]

From the north it's fine and you won't have any issues. The south approach is narrow and rather sketchy. Still doable but running into any other traffic would be a big problem.

Thanks for this. Where is the north approach? The only approach I can find is from the south out of Jasper. Is that what you mean (driving north vs approaching from the north?) I've called the Conejos Ranger Station a couple of times, somebody answers the phone then promptly hangs up

I meant approaching from the north. I'd have to sit down with a map but you can get there from Del Norte. That's how we drove out.

(edit: looks like 14 to 329?)

[James Dziezynski]

Right on, thanks! I'm staying in Del Norte and wanted to approach from the town. I'll do some more reading and see if I can chart the route.

[Chicago Transplant]

Yep, north approach is from Del Norte, take 14 to 329 past Fuchs Reservoir. Drove it in 2013 but it was fine in an Outback then.

[James Dziezynski]

Yep, north approach is from Del Norte, take 14 to 329 past Fuchs Reservoir. Drove it in 2013 but it was fine in an Outback then.

Excellent, thanks!

[DaveLanders]

I drove the north approach in 2024 with a stock 4Runner. The last mile or so gets a little steep and narrow but I don't think I used 4wd to go up. It could be different if there has been a lot of recent rain. I probably used 4wd to go down just so I wouldn't have to ride the brakes. There's plenty of room to park at the pass, but it's pretty exposed to weather, so I camped on a side road lower down.

[James Dziezynski]

I drove the north approach in 2024 with a stock 4Runner. The last mile or so gets a little steep and narrow but I don't think I used 4wd to go up. It could be different if there has been a lot of recent rain. I probably used 4wd to go down just so I wouldn't have to ride the brakes. There's plenty of room to park at the pass, but it's pretty exposed to weather, so I camped on a side road lower down.

Thanks! Good beta, sounds like it's pretty straightforward 14 > 329.