Shrine Pass
Encyclopedia
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
. It is traversed by a narrow unpaved road connecting the eastern side of Vail Pass near Interstate 70
(east) with the town of Red Cliff
in the upper valley of the Eagle River
(west). Most of the time, it is a 4WD or jeep trail; however, in ideal weather the road is considered traversable by sturdy 2WD vehicles and light trucks.
The pass was formerly the principal route between the upper valleys of the Blue and Eagle before the construction of U.S. Highway 6 over nearby Vail Pass
, which subsequently became the main route. The pass offers scenic view of wildflower meadows and pine woodlands during the summer and autumn months, as well as distant view of Mount of the Holy Cross
to the north. It is especially popular as a sightseeing route during the autumn months.
During the winter, it is a popular snowmobile
and cross-country skiing
route. A car shuttle from the resort town of Vail
in the Eagle Valley to the town of Red Cliff allows skiers to access the pass. After a one mile hike upwards, it is possible to descend a ten-mile course back down to the town of Red Cliff.
Skiers and snowboarders sometimes ride over the back side of Vail Resort's Blue Sky Basin, finding themselves on Shrine Pass. Lost skiers and snowboarders are often picked up by snowmobilers and taken to Red Cliff.
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...
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 central Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The pass is located at the northern end of the Sawatch Range
Sawatch Range
The Sawatch Range is a mountain range in central Colorado which includes eight of the twenty highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains, including Mount Elbert, at elevation, the highest peak in the Rockies....
, along the border of Eagle
Eagle County, Colorado
Eagle County is the thirteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county is named for the Eagle River. The county population was 41,659 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the Town of Eagle...
and Summit
Summit County, Colorado
Summit County is the 19th most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 23,538 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Breckenridge...
counties west of Frisco
Frisco, Colorado
Frisco is a home rule municipality in Summit County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,443 at the 2000 census. It is a popular town among skiers from around the world...
and just northwest of 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...
. It is traversed by a narrow unpaved road connecting the eastern side of Vail Pass near Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
(east) with the town of Red Cliff
Red Cliff, Colorado
Red Cliff is a Statutory Town in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population was 289 at the 2000 census. The town is a former mining camp situated in the canyon of the upper Eagle River just off U.S. Highway 24 north of Tennessee Pass...
in the upper valley of the Eagle River
Eagle River (Colorado)
The Eagle River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in west central Colorado in the United States.It rises in southeastern Eagle County, at the continental divide, and flows northwest past Gilman, Minturn, Avon...
(west). Most of the time, it is a 4WD or jeep trail; however, in ideal weather the road is considered traversable by sturdy 2WD vehicles and light trucks.
The pass was formerly the principal route between the upper valleys of the Blue and Eagle before the construction of U.S. Highway 6 over nearby 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...
, which subsequently became the main route. The pass offers scenic view of wildflower meadows and pine woodlands during the summer and autumn months, as well as distant view of Mount of the Holy Cross
Mount of the Holy Cross
Mount of the Holy Cross is the northernmost 14,000-foot mountain in the Sawatch Range, part of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. It is located in the Holy Cross Wilderness near the ghost town of Holy Cross City and in Eagle County. It was named for the distinctive cross-shaped snowfield on the...
to the north. It is especially popular as a sightseeing route during the autumn months.
During the winter, it is a popular snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
route. A car shuttle from the resort town of Vail
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...
in the Eagle Valley to the town of Red Cliff allows skiers to access the pass. After a one mile hike upwards, it is possible to descend a ten-mile course back down to the town of Red Cliff.
Skiers and snowboarders sometimes ride over the back side of Vail Resort's Blue Sky Basin, finding themselves on Shrine Pass. Lost skiers and snowboarders are often picked up by snowmobilers and taken to Red Cliff.
External links
- Topographic map from USGS The National Map