Monarch Pass - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Monarch Mountain is one of the oldest Colorado ski areas, which opened in 1939. It’s located in the central Rocky Mountains near Salida and receives over 350 inches of snow each year. The resort is situated on Monarch Pass at the continental divide. It has 54 trails, two terrain parks, and an extreme terrain area called Mirkwood. The Monarch Mountain Lodge is located three miles (5 km) east of the ski area in the town of Garfield, Colorado.

Hunt Lake Trail is a short hike below the Continental Divide north of the summit of Monarch Pass and east of Salida, Colorado. The trail is fairly steep in places and moves over rocky, rough terrain. Hiking poles are a good idea to provide yourself with extra stability. Ensure that you have proper footwear that offer good stability for this rough granite trail with has lots of ups and downs.

This is a 7-mile trail to the Continental Divide or 6 miles to the Green’s Creek Crossing. The lower section of the trail is smooth and winds through tight aspen trees. The upper section is steep, wet, and rocky. The trail is used by hikers, horseback riders, bikers and motorized dirt bikes.

Mount Ouray is a mountain peak in Saguache County. With an elevation of 12,943 feet, it is the county's highest point. The mountain is located in the San Juan Mountains, a range of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Ouray is named for Chief Ouray of the Ute tribe, who lived in the area. The mountain has been a popular destination for hikers and climbers since the late 19th century. A trail to the summit was built in 1887, making it one of the first mountains in Colorado to be accessible by trail.

North Fork Reservoir is a reservoir behind North Fork Dam, on the Clackamas River, upriver from Estacada. It is found at an elevation of 666 feet. It is a popular fishing area and it is near Portland, Oregon, is easily accessible, and is a popular recreation area. It is also a popular boating area.

Tomichi Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It is located in Gunnison County and in the Gunnison National Forest. The pass divides the watersheds of Middle Quartz Creek to the north and Tomichi Creek to the south.The pass was originally traversed by a pack trail connecting the mines and mining camps to the north with those to the south in the 1870s.