Advertisement

Alaska Trips

This Ultra Narrow Road In Alaska Will Both Thrill And Terrify You

By Carey Seward | Published November 28, 2017

The first major highway built in Alaska crosses from Fairbanks south to Valdez. The Richardson Highway runs 368 miles and connects the Interior to the coast. The highway winds through the Alaskan wilderness with twists and turns that will thrill and terrify you.

The Richardson has only two lanes and very little shoulder for most of its 400 mile path. A drive to Valdez is always terrifying and thrilling.

The Richardson was once a walking trail that went from Valdez to Eagle. It eventually became the first road the state wanted to improve.

Advertisement

The most thrilling section is between Glenallen and Valdez when the highway cuts through the Chugach Mountains in the Thompson Pass.

Advertisement

The Thompson Pass is a 2,805 foot-high gap in the Chugach Mountains near Valdez. A drive down the Richardson Highway takes you over this terrifying pass.

It can also be trecherous when rainy and slick, especially when the rain freezes to form a thick sheet of ice on the roads.

Sometimes it's foggy and freezing, making traffic crawl along the dim, icy road.

But a drive down the Richardson Highway is always great to make you feel alive.

If you like this article, try out This Remote Alaska Road Is Picture Perfect For A Country Drive. You may also enjoy Driving Down This Haunted Alaska Road Will Give You Nightmares.

Have you been on the road to Hope? Tell us about it in the comments below!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.