Colorado Mountain Passes
This is a list of some important mountain passes in the Rocky Mountains of the U.S. State of Colorado.
Mountain passes and highway summits traversed by improved roads
Mountain summit highways
Highway | Maximum elevation | Maximum grade | Road surface | Route | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway | 14,140 feet 4,310 m |
15% | Asphalt | 39°35′17″N 105°38′33″W / 39.58793°N 105.64245°W | |
Pikes Peak Highway | 14,115 feet 4,302 m |
8% | Asphalt | Pikes Peak Toll Road | 38°50′26″N 105°02′40″W / 38.84054°N 105.04442°W |
Mountain passes traversed by unimproved roads
Mountain passes traversed by foot trails
See also
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- Outline of Colorado
Notes
- ^ Pass name from the United States Geographic Names Information System except as noted.
- ^ Maximum topographic elevation data from the Colorado Department of Transportation except as noted.
- ^ Maximum grade data from the Colorado Department of Transportation except as noted.
- ^ Road surface material information from the Colorado Department of Transportation except as noted.
- ^ Route information from the Colorado Department of Transportation except as noted.
- ^ World Geodetic System 1984 location coordinates from the United States Geographic Names Information System except as noted.
- ^ Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway Route 34) crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass but reaches its highest point several miles northeast of the pass. Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through highway in North America. Trail Ridge Road is normally closed from about October 15 through about May 25.
- ^ This pass crosses the Continental Divide of the Americas.
- ^ Cottonwood Pass is normally closed from about November 7 through about May 25.
- ^ Independence Pass is normally closed from about November 7 through about May 25.
- ^ Topographic elevation data from United States Geological Survey 1:24000 topographic map.
- ^ The highest elevation in the Eisenhower Tunnel is a short distance inside the West Portal. The tunnel passes under the Continental Divide of the Americas a few miles west of Loveland Pass. The Eisenhower Tunnel is the highest elevation on the Interstate Highway System of the United States.
- ^ The Grand Mesa Summit is the highest point on State Highway 65, the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway. Conditions can be quite severe in winter, though the road generally remains open.
- ^ Kebler Pass is normally closed from about November 7 through about May 25.
- ^ Raton Pass is the highest point on Interstate Highway Route 25. The pass is located 1,132 feet (345 m) south of the Colorado state line in the New Mexico. I-25 has an elevation of approximately 7,820 feet (2,384 m) at the state line.
- ^ Highway name from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
- ^ The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, Colorado State Highway 5, ends about one quarter mile (400 m) from the summit of Mount Blue Sky. The highway is the highest paved road in North America. The highway is normally closed from about September 10 through about May 25, although access to Summit Lake at 12,836 feet (3,912 m) normally remains open until about September 30.
- ^ The Pikes Peak Highway ends on the summit of Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak is the most visited mountain summit in North America. The highway remains open all year weather permitting.
- ^ Topographic elevation data from the United States Geographic Names Information System except as noted.
- ^ Argentine Pass is the highest road over the Continental Divide in North America.
- ^ Electric Pass is the highest named pass in the Rocky Mountains of North America.
References
- ^ "PIKES PEAK". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ^ "Image: 9330245523_63309fa6c8_z.jpg, (640 × 474 px)". i0.wp.com. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ "BLM Colorado Press Release". blm.gov. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ "Image: 35280962.EngineerPass1.jpg, (800 × 600 px)". m2.i.pbase.com. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ "Image: 7397510146_00c07aa4b3_z.jpg, (480 × 640 px)". farm8.staticflickr.com. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ http://lizardheadcyclingguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/image010.jpg
- ^ "Image: 2634575-9_Cinnamon_Pass.JPG, (500 × 375 px)". images.everytrail.com. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ "Mestaa'ėhehe Pass". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. September 8, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2024.