82 Mountain Passes to Explore in Colorado

A majestic high altitude pass, which features excellent views of Treasure Mountain and Marble Peak with Daly Peak in the distance. It is one of the iconic location which is covered with trees and also there are opportunities to explore the wildlife habitat too.

Arapaho Pass is 11,906 feet above sea level, but a manageable 1,800 feet above the trailhead. Meander to the north side of the ridge to look down on Caribou Lake. Due west is Lake Dorothy. Keep an eye out for backcountry skiers taking runs off Mount Neva. Follow the same route back to the trailhead. It is also one of the iconic location which offers beautiful views of this area.

Argentine Pass is a high mountain pass in Summit County, Colorado. It is the highest paved pass in the Rockies. The pass provides access to the valley of the Blue River from the west. The pass was used by Native Americans and early settlers as a shortcut between the Platte and Arkansas rivers. Today, the pass is popular with hikers, cyclists, and skiers. Argentine Pass is also one of the few places in Colorado where you can drive across the Continental Divide.

Berthoud Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.446m above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County. 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. The pass traverses the continental divide at the Front Range, on the border between Clear Creek County and Grand County. The pass is a destination for local backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers.

Boreas Pass is a high mountain pass that traverses the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The pass is located in the Front Range, west of Denver, and provides the shortest route between the cities of Denver and Grand Junction. Boreas Pass is Named for the north wind of Greek mythology, the pass was used by prospectors during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859-60. Today, Boreas Pass is a popular recreation area, offering hiking, camping, and fishing opportunities.

Boreas Pass is a mountain pass located on the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 11,481 feet. Boreas Pass Road connects the towns of Breckenridge and Como in the Western Slope region of Colorado. The pass was originally used by Native Americans and later by settlers during the Colorado Gold Rush. Today, Boreas Pass is a popular recreation area, with hiking, camping, and fishing opportunities. The pass is also home to several ski resorts.

Boulder-Grand Pass is located 7.25 miles from Wild Basin Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. It spans a broad saddle along the Continental Divide between Tanima Peak and Pilot Mountain. Boulder-Grand takes you to 12000’, within reach of two summits to the north, Mount Alice and Pilot Mountain, and three to the south, Tanima Peak, The Cleaver and Isolation Peak.

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. The pass is in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and is the easternmost mountain pass on the continental divide.

Buffalo Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado in the United States. It is located in the Park Range, within Routt National Forest. The pass provides a route between the headwaters of the North Fork of the Illinois River on the west side of the continental divide and the Middle Fork of the Williams Fork River on the east side. Buffalo Pass is traversed by State Highway 14 and Forest Road 50, both of which are popular scenic routes.

Cerro Summit is a high mountain pass in Montrose County, Colorado. The pass lies on the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 12,276 feet. The pass is traversed by State Highway 145, which connects the towns of Telluride and Placerville. Cerro Summit is one of the highest paved roads in Colorado. The views from the pass are stunning, with alpine meadows and wildflowers in summer, and snow-capped peaks in winter.

Cinnamon Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.853m above the sea level, located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It is a 19.2 mile 4WD route between Silverton and Lake City Colorado and is part of the well known Alpine Loop. This is one of Colorado's most scenic offroad drives and this long climb on narrowing shelf road is primarily used for off road driving and it’s accessible from May until October.

Coal Bank Pass is a high mountain pass located in San Juan County, Colorado. The pass is traversed by a road that connects the town of Silverton with the town of Ouray. The pass is named for the coal deposits that are found in the area. The road over the pass is one of the most scenic drives in Colorado, and it offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The pass is open year-round, but it can be treacherous in winter due to the heavy snowfall.

Cochetopa Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. The pass is located on the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 11,991 feet. It is one of the lowest passes on the Continental Divide in Colorado. The pass is traversed by State Highway 114, which connects the town of Saguache with the San Luis Valley. The pass is located within the San Isabel National Forest, and is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and fishing.

Cordova Pass is a 11,260 foot mountain pass just outside of the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. It is reached via the Apishapa Road, a leg of the Scenic Highway of Legends. Most of the time, the pass may be traversed by passenger vehicles, although it is not accessible from mid-November to late May.There are vault toilets, several picnic tables and a couple of primitive campsites in the summit area. This is a "Fee Area".

A high mountain pass on the Continental Divide of the Americas in the Sawatch Range of Colorado. It rises to the west out of Buena Vista, heading over the Continental Divide. It’s an amazing mountain pass to see colorful fall aspen groves. It connects with Almont near Crested Butte, making it an excellent summer trip. The road closes in winter due to heavy snowfall, usually sometime in October.

Cucharas Pass is a high mountain pass located on the boundary of Huerfano and Las Animas counties, in south central Colorado in the United States. The road winds its way through Cuchara, where you will begin to see the old volcanic dykes of Stonewall, Colorado. The Cuchara river will accompany you through most of your Northern journey. The region gets its name from the spoon-like shape of the valley, with "cuchara" being the Spanish word for "spoon."

Cumberland Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The pass is traversed by Forest Road 765 and can be accessed from the towns of Tincup to the north and Pitkin to the south. The Cumberland Pass road was built in 1882, connecting the mining towns of Tin Cup to the north and Pitkin to the south. Evidence of past and present human activities can be found at Cumberland Pass.

This is a high mountain pass that traverses the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. It is located west of the town of Ouray, and its highest point is 12,925 feet. The divide takes its name from the fact that it separates the headwaters of two major rivers, the Gunnison River and the San Miguel River. The scenery along the Dallas Divide is some of the most picturesque in Colorado, with towering peaks and lush valleys. In addition, the area is home to a variety of wildlife.

Douglas Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.526m above the sea level. 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.The summit gives an unusual view of the northeast face of the La Sal Mountains, 76 miles away in Utah.

Dunckley Pass is a high mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. The pass is located on the Continental Divide at an elevation of 12,943 feet. Dunckley Pass is traversed by the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and is a popular destination for backpacking, day hikes, and horseback riding. The pass is also used by off-road vehicles and mountain bikes. Dunckley Pass provides stunning views of the Rio Grande River valley and the surrounding mountains.