Colorado mountain passes
Encyclopedia
The following tables list some important mountain pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...

es in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...

 of the U.S. State of Colorado
.

High elevation Colorado highways not on a pass

High Elevation Colorado Highways Not On a Pass
Rank
Ranking
A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either 'ranked higher than', 'ranked lower than' or 'ranked equal to' the second....

Highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

Elevation Grade Surface
Pavement (material)
Road surface or pavement is the durable surface material laid down on an area intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic, such as a road or walkway. In the past cobblestones and granite setts were extensively used, but these surfaces have mostly been replaced by asphalt or concrete. Such...

Route
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

1 Mount Evans Scenic Byway
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
The Mount Evans Scenic Byway begins at the junction of Interstate 70 and State Highway 103 near Idaho Springs, Colorado and continues on State Highway 5 through the Mount Evans Wilderness where it ends near the summit of Mount Evans. The byway is in length and gains over of elevation...

14,160 feet
4316 m
15% asphalt
2 Pikes Peak Highway
Pikes Peak Highway
The Pikes Peak Highway is a toll road that runs from Cascade, Colorado to the summit of Pikes Peak in El Paso County, Colorado, at an altitude of...

14,110 feet
4302 m
gravel toll
road
Pikes Peak Highway
The Pikes Peak Highway is a toll road that runs from Cascade, Colorado to the summit of Pikes Peak in El Paso County, Colorado, at an altitude of...

3 Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road is the name for a stretch of U.S. Highway 34 and is the highest continuous highway in the United States. Also known as Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway, it traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in...

12,183 feet
3713 m
asphalt
4 Eisenhower Tunnel
Eisenhower Tunnel
The Eisenhower Tunnel, officially the Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel, is a dual-bore, four-lane vehicular tunnel approximately west of Denver, Colorado, United States. The tunnel carries Interstate 70 under the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. With a maximum elevation of above sea...

11,158 feet
3401 m
concrete
5 Grand Mesa Summit The highest point on Grand Mesa, the highest flat-topped mountain in the world.
Colorado Highway 65 (Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway
Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway
Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway, also known at the Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway, runs North from Cedaredge along Highway 65, to the top of the Grand Mesa at more than 10,000 feet . It also includes Land's End Road to the Land's End Observatory from Highway 65...

) traverses this mountain and conditions can be quite severe in winter, though it generally remains open.
10,839 feet
3304 m
asphalt

Colorado mountain passes traversed by paved highways

Paved Colorado Mountain Passes
Rank
Ranking
A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either 'ranked higher than', 'ranked lower than' or 'ranked equal to' the second....

Mountain Pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...

Elevation Grade Surface
Pavement (material)
Road surface or pavement is the durable surface material laid down on an area intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic, such as a road or walkway. In the past cobblestones and granite setts were extensively used, but these surfaces have mostly been replaced by asphalt or concrete. Such...

Route
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

1 Independence Pass
Independence Pass (Colorado)
Independence Pass, elevation , is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass crosses the ridge of the Sawatch Range between Aspen and Leadville, on the border between Pitkin and Lake counties, and is within the White River National Forest...

12,103 feet
3689 m
6.0% asphalt
2 Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass, elevation 11,990 ft. above sea level, is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado, U.S.A.....

11,990 feet
3655 m
6.0% asphalt
3 Hoosier Pass
Hoosier Pass
Hoosier Pass elevation is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located on the Continental Divide at the northern end of the Mosquito Range, in a gap between Mount Lincoln and Hoosier Ridge...

11,541 feet
3518 m
8.0% NB asphalt
4 Slumgullion Pass
Slumgullion Pass
Slumgullion Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass in Colorado traversed by State Highway 149 east of Lake City. The north side has the steepest grade of any continuously paved road in Colorado , but the pass does not close often in winter because snowplows clear the route regularly during this season...

11,361 feet
3463 m
9.4% NB
7.9% SB
asphalt
5 Fremont Pass
Fremont Pass (Colorado)
Fremont Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.It forms the continental divide on the border between Lake County and Summit County. The pass is named for John C. Fremont, an explorer of the American West who discovered the pass while traversing...

11,318 feet
3450 m
5.7% asphalt
6 Berthoud Pass
Berthoud Pass
Berthoud Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located west of Denver, and provides a high route between upper Clear Creek Canyon to the upper valley of the Fraser River in Middle Park to the north...

11,315 feet
3449 m
6.1% NB
6.0% SB
asphalt
7 Monarch Pass
Monarch Pass
Monarch Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located on the continental divide at the southern end of the Sawatch Range along the border between Gunnison and Chaffee counties, approximately west of the town of Salida. The...

11,312 feet
3448 m
6.4% asphalt
8 Juniper Pass 11,130 feet
3383 m
6.5% asphalt
9 Red Mountain Pass
Red Mountain Pass
Red Mountain Pass elevation is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of western Coloradoin the United States.The pass straddles a divide that separates Ouray and San Juan counties. The pass is named for the nearby Red Mountain 1, 2 and, 3 on the northeast side of the pass...

11,018 feet
3358 m
7.2% asphalt
10 Molas Divide 10,910 feet
3325 m
7.0% asphalt
11 Spring Creek Pass
Spring Creek Pass
Spring Creek Pass is a high mountain pass in Colorado traversed by State Highway 149. Slumgullion Pass lies just a few miles to its northwest, along the same highway....

10,901 feet
3323 m
7.5% asphalt
12 Wolf Creek Pass
Wolf Creek Pass
Wolf Creek Pass is a high mountain pass on the Continental Divide, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It is the route through which U.S. Highway 160 passes from the San Luis Valley into southwest Colorado on its way to New Mexico and Arizona. The pass is notable as inspiration of a C. W....

10,850 feet
3307 m
6.5% asphalt
13 Milner Pass
Milner Pass
Milner Pass, elevation is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States. It is located on the continental divide in the Front Range, within Rocky Mountain National Park, along the boundary between Larimer and Grand counties. The pass provides the passage over the...

10,758 feet
3279 m
5.4% WB asphalt
14 Vail Pass
Vail Pass
Vail Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. The pass was named for Charles Vail, a highway engineer.Vail Pass lies on the boundary between Eagle and Summit counties, between Vail on the west and Copper Mountain on the east. It provides the route of Interstate 70...

10,666 feet
3251 m
7.0% asphalt
15 Coal Bank Pass
Coal Bank Pass
Coal Bank Pass is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of western Colorado in the United States. The pass is in the San Juan National Forest. The pass is traversed by the Million Dollar Highway, U.S. Highway 550 south of Silverton, which is part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway...

10,640 feet
3243 m
6.5% NB asphalt
16 Tennessee Pass
Tennessee Pass (Colorado)
Tennessee Pass elevation is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass traverses the continental divide north of Leadville in a gap between the northern end of the Sawatch Range to the west and the northern end of the Mosquito Range to the east...

10,424 feet
3177 m
6.0% asphalt
17 Cameron Pass
Cameron Pass (Colorado)
Cameron Pass is a elevation mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains in north central Colorado in the United States. The pass is a gap between the south end of the Medicine Bow Mountains and the north end of the Never Summer Mountains. It sits on the border between Jackson County and Larimer County,...

10,276 feet
3132 m
3.8% EB
3.1% WB
asphalt
18 La Manga Pass
La Manga Pass
La Manga Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado....

10,230 feet
3118 m
5.2% asphalt
19 Lizard Head Pass
Lizard Head Pass
Lizard Head Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass in Colorado traversed by State Highway 145. It is located 12 miles south of the Telluride turnoff. The pass is named for a prominent nearby peak that is said to look like a lizard's head, the spire of Lizard Head...

10,222 feet
3116 m
4.1% asphalt
20 North Pass
North Pass
North Pass is a mountain pass over the Continental Divide in Colorado traversed by state route 114 between Saguache, Colorado and Gunnison, Colorado. It is an all-weather paved road, but, as of 2011, there are no snow plows operating between 7 PM and 7 AM....

10,149 feet
3093 m
6.0% asphalt
21 Cumbres Pass
Cumbres Pass
Cumbres Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The pass is traversed by State Highway 17 and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. The highway has a moderate 5.8% approach on the north side and a gentler, 4% approach on the south side...

10,022 feet
3055 m
6.3% asphalt
22 Kenosha Pass
Kenosha Pass
Kenosha Pass, elevation , is a high mountain pass located in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Denver, Colorado, just northeast of the town of Fairplay, Colorado...

10,001 feet
3048 m
5.3% EB asphalt
23 Red Hill Pass
Red Hill Pass (Colorado)
Red Hill Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located in the foothills of the Mosquito Range at the northern end of South Park in Park County. Though unlabeled at the summit, it is identified by signs from both directions at the...

6.0% asphalt
24 Cucharas Pass
Cucharas Pass
Cucharas Pass is a elevation mountain pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in south central Colorado in the United States....

5.9% NB
5.4% SB
asphalt
25 Squaw Pass 6.0% asphalt
26 Willow Creek Pass
Willow Creek Pass (Colorado)
Willow Creek Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of north central Colorado.-Overview:The pass encompasses the continental divide in the Rabbit Ears Range along the border between Jackson County and Grand County . North of the pass, the Illinois River descends into North Park in...

6.3% asphalt
27 Gore Pass
Gore Pass
Gore Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Colorado in the United States.The pass crosses a gap in the northern end of the Gore Range in southwestern Grand County west of Kremmling...

6.3% asphalt
28 Wilkerson Pass
Wilkerson Pass
Wilkerson Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains within Pike National Forest, in Colorado.There is a Forest Service visitor center and a few short trails. Wilkerson Pass marks the eastern boundary of South Park....

5.8% asphalt
29 Rabbit Ears Pass
Rabbit Ears Pass
Rabbit Ears Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the continental divide at the southern end of the Park Range along the boundary between Grand and Jackson counties...

6.8% asphalt
30 North La Veta Pass
North La Veta Pass
North La Veta Pass is a elevation mountain pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in south central Colorado in the United States....

6.0% asphalt
31 Trout Creek Pass
Trout Creek Pass
Trout Creek Pass is a mountain pass located in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States. The pass sits atop the southern end of the Mosquito Range on the Park-Chaffee county line, between South Park and the headwaters of the Arkansas River to the west...

5.2% asphalt
32 Ute Pass
Ute Pass
Ute Pass is a mountain pass west of Colorado Springs, near Divide.The climate is arid, so many plants that grow here are adapted to low water usage. The pass at one time was used by stage coach and equestrian traffic. It is steep on the east side. The pass is traversed by U.S. Highway 24....

5.6% asphalt
33 Wind River Pass
Wind River Pass
Wind River Pass elevation is a mountain pass in Larimer County, Colorado near the Twin Sisters Peaks....

asphalt
34 Poncha Pass
Poncha Pass
Poncha Pass is a mountain pass in South-Central Colorado . It lies between the San Luis Valley to the south and the valley of the Arkansas River to the north, and is one of the lowest mountain passes in the state . It is in the saddle between the Sangre de Cristo Range, lying to the southeast, and...

2.9% asphalt
35 Dallas Divide
Dallas Divide
Dallas Divide is a high mountain pass in the United States state of Colorado located on State Highway 62 about west of the town of Ridgway....

6.4% EB
5.0% WB
asphalt
36 Muddy Pass
Muddy Pass
Muddy Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the continental divide along the boundary between Jackson and Grand counties. The pass separates North Park and the headwaters of the North Platte River with Middle Park near the...

5.6% asphalt
37 McClure Pass
McClure Pass
McClure Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of western Colorado in the United States.- Overview :...

8.0% asphalt
38 Douglas Pass
Douglas Pass
Douglas Pass is a mountain pass in Colorado traversed by State Highway 139. It is not an especially high summit relative to other Colorado passes, and the road, though reasonably steep on the south side , has no tight spots and only a few switchbacks...

7.0% asphalt
45 Cerro Summit 7,958 feet
2423 m
asphalt
46 Raton Pass
Raton Pass
Raton Pass is a mountain pass on the Santa Fe Trail along the Colorado-New Mexico border in the United States. Raton Pass is a federally designated National Historic Landmark...

7,834 feet
2388 m
asphalt
48 Monument Hill
Monument Hill (Colorado)
Monument Hill or Back Forest Divide Pass is a elevation mountain pass in the Palmer Divide in central Colorado in the United States. The pass dividing the Arkansas River drainage system to the south and the Platte River drainage system to the north is the high point on between Denver and Colorado...

7,343 feet
2238 m
asphalt
49 Unaweep Divide 7,048 feet
2148 m
asphalt

Colorado mountain passes traversed by improved roads

Colorado Mountain Passes with Improved Roads
Rank
Ranking
A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either 'ranked higher than', 'ranked lower than' or 'ranked equal to' the second....

Mountain Pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...

Elevation
1 Cottonwood Pass
Cottonwood Pass
Cottonwood Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado, United States. It is located near the border of Gunnison and Chaffee counties in Colorado and is in the Sawatch Range...

12,119 feet
3694 m
2 Fall River Pass
Fall River Pass
-Fall River Pass:Fall River Pass is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States. It is located on the in the Front Range, within Rocky Mountain National Park. The pass is traversed by U.S. Highway 34 on Trail Ridge Road between Estes Park and Granby...

11,762 feet
3585 m
3 Guanella Pass
Guanella Pass
Guanella Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado, US.The pass is located in southwestern Clear Creek County, in the Front Range west of Denver and south of Georgetown....

11,660 feet
3554 m
4 Boreas Pass
Boreas Pass
Boreas Pass, elevation , is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States. The pass is located on the continental divide, at the crest of the Front Range along the border between Park and Summit counties...

11,499 feet
3505 m
5 Shrine Pass
Shrine Pass
Shrine Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located at the northern end of the Sawatch Range, along the border of Eagle and Summit counties west of Frisco and just northwest of Vail Pass...

11,086 feet
3379 m
6 Marshall Pass
Marshall Pass
Marshall Pass is between Salida and Gunnison at the Continental Divide. Marshall Pass was discovered by, and named for, Lt. William L. Marshall of the Wheeler Survey in 1873...

10,882 feet
3317 m
8 Cochetopa Pass
Cochetopa Pass
Cochetopa Pass is a mountain pass in Colorado. It lies between the city of Gunnison and the town of Saguache. It lies on the Continental Divide, which separates the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests...

10,200 feet
3109 m
9 Kebler Pass
Kebler Pass
Kebler Pass is a high mountain pass in Colorado that goes between highway 133 and Crested Butte. It is a mostly gravel road and is closed during the winter months. A few portions of the road near the top of the pass have been paved...

10,003 feet
3049 m
10 La Veta Pass 9,426 feet
2873 m

Some Colorado mountain passes traversed by unimproved roads

Some Colorado Mountain Passes with Unimproved Roads
Rank
Ranking
A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either 'ranked higher than', 'ranked lower than' or 'ranked equal to' the second....

Mountain Pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...

Elevation
1 Argentine Pass
Argentine Pass
Argentine Pass, elevation , is a high mountain pass that crosses the Continental Divide in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States....

13,205 feet
4025 m
2 Mosquito Pass
Mosquito Pass
Mosquito Pass is a high mountain pass in the Mosquito Range of central Colorado in the United States.The pass lies on the boundary between Lake and Park counties between Leadville and Fairplay . One of the highest passes in the state, it is traversable only on foot or with a proper four-wheel...

13,179 feet
4017 m
3 Imogene Pass
Imogene Pass
Imogene Pass is a high mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains in the southwest part of the US state of Colorado....

13,117 feet
3998 m
4 Black Bear Pass 12,840 feet
3914 m
5 Engineer Pass 12,795 feet
3900 m
6 Pearl Pass 12,713 feet
3875 m
7 Cinnamon Pass 12,615 feet
3845 m
8 Hagerman Pass
Hagerman Pass
Hagerman Pass, elevation , is a high mountain pass that crosses the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass was named for James J. Hagerman, builder of the Colorado Midland Railroad...

11,925 feet
3635 m
9 Weston Pass 11,921 feet
3633 m
10 Ophir Pass 11,789 feet
3593 m
11 Ptarmigan Pass
Ptarmigan Pass
Ptarmigan Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.It is located on the crest of the northern end of the Sawatch Range, along the border of Eagle and Summit counties, south of Vail Pass. The pass is traversed by a jeep trail that is passable by...

11,777 feet
3590 m
12 Rollins Pass
Rollins Pass
Rollins Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado in the United States. The pass is located on the continental divide at the crest of the Front Range southwest of Boulder, at the boundary of Grand and Boulder counties.-Description:Rollins Pass Rollins Pass (el....

11,677 feet
3559 m
13 Georgia Pass 11,585 feet
3531 m
14 Schofield Pass
Schofield Pass (Colorado)
Schofield Pass is a high mountain pass located near Crested Butte CO and is one of the most popular ways to get to Snowmass Mountain. It is the high point on Gothic Road, which connects the towns of Marble and Crested Butte. The road to the summit is suitable for a passenger car if traveling from...

10,722 feet
3268 m
15 Hayden Pass 10,712 feet
3265 m
16 Medano Pass 9,931 feet
3027 m

Some Colorado mountain passes traversed by trail

Some Colorado Mountain Passes with Trails
Rank
Ranking
A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either 'ranked higher than', 'ranked lower than' or 'ranked equal to' the second....

Mountain Pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...

Elevation
1 Electric Pass 13,494 feet
4113 m
2 Elkhead Pass 13,245 feet
4037 m
3 The Keyhole 13,163 feet
4012 m
4 The Notch 13,035 feet
3973 m
5 Hermit Pass 13,015 feet
3967 m
6 Blue Lake Pass 12,969 feet
3953 m
7 Denver Pass 12,907 feet
3934 m
8 Triangle Pass 12,907 feet
3934 m
9 The Window 12,877 feet
3925 m
10 Trimble Pass 12,874 feet
3924 m
11 Fall Creek Pass 12,848 feet
3916 m
12 Conundrum Pass 12,779 feet
3895 m
13 McHenrys Notch 12,736 feet
3882 m
14 Coffeepot Pass 12,726 feet
3879 m
15 Sunnyside Saddle 12,677 feet
3864 m
16 Columbine Pass 12,674 feet
3863 m
17 Richmond Pass 12,667 feet
3861 m
18 Stony Pass 12,592 feet
3838 m
19 Willow Pass 12,556 feet
3827 m
20 Whiskey Pass 12,549 feet
3825 m
21 Pawnee Pass 12,542 feet
3823 m
22 Venable Pass 12,539 feet
3822 m
23 Halfmoon Pass 12,523 feet
3817 m
24 Copper Pass 12,510 feet
3813 m
25 Stone Man Pass 12,506 feet
3812 m
26 Hunchback Pass 12,500 feet
3810 m
27 Arapaho Pass
Arapaho Pass (Boulder County, Colorado)
Arapaho Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass that crosses the Continental Divide in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in the United States....

11,905 feet
3629 m
28 Buchanan Pass
Buchanan Pass
Buchanan Pass is a mountain pass located in the Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado in the United States. The pass is toward the northern end of the Indian Peaks of the Front Range on the Grand-Boulder county line, between the Buchanan Creek drainage to the west and the Middle St. Vrain...

11,837 feet
3608 m
29 La Poudre Pass
La Poudre Pass
La Poudre Pass elevation is a high mountain pass located in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the Continental Divide, and separates the headwaters of La Poudre Pass Creek, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, from the headwaters of the Colorado...

10,175 feet
3101 m

See also

  • Colorado mountain peaks
  • Colorado mountain ranges
  • Mountain pass
    Mountain pass
    A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...

  • State highways in Colorado
    State highways in Colorado
    The system of State highways in Colorado is a system of public paved roads funded and maintained by the Colorado Department of Transportation; in the U.S. State of Colorado comprises State Highways , U.S. Routes, and Interstate Highways...

  • State of Colorado
  • Wikimedia Commons: Mountain passes of Colorado

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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