Sierra Madre Occidental · Mexico
El Espinazo del Diablo
MEX 40El Salto, Durango to El Palmito, Sinaloa
The old libre Highway 40 crossing of the Sierra Madre Occidental, notorious for its 2,000-plus curves, bottomless canyons and the knife-edge Espinazo del Diablo ridge at 2,744 m, one of the most dramatic mountain drives in the Americas.
From El Salto (2,580 m) on the Durango plateau the road winds west through pine forest, cresting the Sierra Madre at 2,744 m before plunging through the razor-thin Espinazo del Diablo ridge flanked by thousand-metre ravines, then descending in endless hairpins through subtropical gorges to the Sinaloa foothills at El Palmito. The new 40D toll road is faster; the old libre road is the drive.
Scenery
Best seasons
In these collections
El Espinazo del Diablo on the map61.1 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners
busiest around mile 59Elevation
approximateunder 4%4–8%over 8%1,947.4 – 2,812.5 mFrom the road
Points of interest2 stops
- Mirador Espinazo del DiabloViewpoint41 mi in
- Mirador de MexiquilloViewpoint29 mi in
Hazards
- Sharp bends
- Steep drop-offs
- Frequent fog
- Seasonal ice
- Livestock on the road
- Narrow two-lane road
Sources
“The road runs between mountains and deep canyons cut straight down. From here, one enjoys an incomparable view of the Sierra Madre Occidental.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving el Espinazo del Diablo: quick answers
How long does it take to drive el Espinazo del Diablo?
How difficult is el Espinazo del Diablo to drive?
When is the best time to drive el Espinazo del Diablo?
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to El Espinazo del Diablo.
