Cars and driving - Western Slope
La Plata Canyon Road turns to rough 4WD before Kennebec Pass
La Plata Canyon Road west of Durango starts paved, turns to gravel near the forest boundary, and becomes a rugged 4WD route beyond the campgrounds toward Kennebec Pass.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026
West of Durango, the La Plata Mountains rise above a long valley reached by La Plata Canyon Road, County Road 124. You get there by driving west on US 160 to the small community of Hesperus, then turning north. The lower canyon is an easy, pretty drive, and the pavement turns to gravel near the national forest boundary.
The catch is what happens higher up. According to the San Juan National Forest, the gravel road is passable for most cars as far as the lower campgrounds, Kroeger and Snowslide. Beyond them, the road becomes a rugged four-wheel-drive route toward Kennebec Pass. A regular car or low-clearance crossover does not belong on the upper road.
This is a place where it is easy to drive in farther than you can comfortably drive out, especially if weather moves in. Mountain storms, mud, and lingering snow can make the upper road slow or impassable, sometimes well into early summer. The Colorado Trail crosses the high country near the pass, so you may also share the area with hikers and bikers.
Before heading up, check the San Juan National Forest pages for the La Plata Canyon campgrounds and current road and trail conditions.