121 Mountain Passes to Explore in United States
Checkout places to visit in United States
Third largest and third most populous country in the world. Size-wise, it is almost as large as the continent of Europe.
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Mountain Passes to Explore in United States
Medano Pass is a high mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains on the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 12,933 feet. It is traversed by U.S. Highway 285 and State Highway 112. The pass provides the only year-round road access to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The pass is also popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts. In winter, the pass is used by cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Medano Pass is one of the highest continuous paved roads in North America.
Mengel Pass is a long and moderately difficult trail located in the Death Valley area. This Pass, is unpaved. It’s called Coyote Canyon Road. Road conditions are always changing. Experienced 4WD drivers only. Section over both sides of Mengel Pass is challenging, steep and rutted. Its harsh weather and terrain can be challenging, but its reward of solitude and spectacular scenery warrants the trip.
This is a mountain pass on Highway 203 in the central Sierra Nevada. The pass, lying on the Madera-Mono County border, is within the Mammoth Ranger District of the Inyo National Forest and located near Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes, and Mammoth Mountain. It offers views of the Ritter Range, including The Minarets, Mount Ritter and Banner Peak, to the west and the Long Valley Caldera, the Glass Mountains and the White Mountains to the east.
Molas Pass is a high mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. The pass is located on the continental divide at an elevation of 10,910 feet above sea level. It is traversed by U.S. Highway 550 between the towns of Silverton and Ouray in Ouray County. The pass is named for the abundance of molas, a type of sunflower, that grow in the area. The pass provides access to the San Juans from the north side and is a popular starting point for hikes into the Weminuche Wilderness.
Monarch Pass is one of the most breathtaking and fun to visit high elevation mountain passes in Colorado. The pass carries U.S. Highway 50 over the Sawatch Range, providing a route between Tomichi Creek in the upper basin of the Gunnison River on the west and the South Arkansas River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, on the east. The pass is widely considered one of the most scenic in Colorado, offering a panoramic view of the southern end of the Sawatch Range from the summit.
Monitor Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.543m above the sea level, located on the boundary between Alpine and Mono counties in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California. It offers some of the best motorcycle riding in the Sierra Nevada range, with breathtaking scenery and light traffic. This Pass itself lies on a side ridge between tributaries of the East Fork Carson River.
Montezuma Pass is within Coronado National Memorial. This site provides views of the San Raphael Valley to the west, the San Pedro Valley to the east, and Mexico to the south. Exhibit panels at the pass provide information about the Coronado Expedition, the flora and fauna of Sky Island habitats, and visible geography. It is also the trailhead for the southern terminus of the great Arizona Trail.
Montgomery Pass, located along the California-Nevada border, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and desert. It's a great spot for hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. But what sets Montgomery Pass apart from other outdoor destinations is the absence of crowds. You won't have to fight for a parking spot or elbow your way through a crowded trail. Plus, if you're lucky, you might even spot a desert bighorn sheep or a pronghorn antelope.
Morgan Pass is a saddle in Inyo County. Morgan can be accessed by trail from Rock Creek Canyon, above Tom's Place on 395. Its trailhead is at the far end of the lake. The trail is well marked the first 4 miles to Francis Lake, where it ends. From there it is a scramble up rocky slopes for 2 miles to the summit
Mosca Pass, is a mountain pass in Alamosa and Huerfano counties in the Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado. The pass lies on the eastern border of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve about 40 miles west of Walsenburg, Colorado. It starts near the Great Sand Dunes National Park visitor center and is impassable to vehicles, lies on the west side of the pass, and Forest Road 580 begins and heads east from the top of the pass.
Mosquito Pass is one of the highest mountain passes in the state of Colorado. It’s a dangerous route that can only be accessed by an unpaved 4×4 road nicknamed “The Highway of Frozen Death”. One of the highest passes in the state, Mosquito Pass can be traversed only on foot, on an offroad motorcycle or with a proper four-wheel drive. It lies on the boundary between Lake and Park counties between Leadville and Fairplay.
Muddy Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado. The pass separates North Park and the headwaters of the North Platte River with Middle Park near the headwaters of the Colorado River. . It is rarely closed in winter and has a mild approach on both sides, with no switchbacks or tight spots. It provides the route of U.S. Highway 40 between Kremmling and Steamboat Springs.
Napoleon Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The pass is the saddle between Napoleon Mountain to the west and Fitzpatrick Peak to the east and divides the watersheds of Middle Willow Creek to the north and Quartz Creek to the south. Napoleon Pass is traversed by Forest Trail 540 and can be accessed from the towns of Tincup to the north and Pitkin to the south.
New York 29 is an east-west state highway located in Fulton County, New York. It runs from the village of Lake Pleasant to the city of Gloversville. The highway passes through several small towns and villages along its route, including Wells, Stratford, Ephratah, Northampton and Johnstown. At its western end, it intersects with U.S. Route 20, while at its eastern end it intersects with New York State Route 67. The total length of New York 29 is approximately 50 miles (80 km).
New York 86 is a major state highway that traverses through Franklin County in upstate New York. The route runs for 50 miles, beginning in the town of Warrensburg and heading north through Fort Ann and Whitehall before terminating at the Canadian border near Rouses Point. Along the way, it passes through several small communities such as Chestertown, Thurman, and Minerva. New York 86 is a heavily traveled route, with most of the traffic coming from truckers.
North Pass is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Saguache County. It is the highest motor pass in Colorado. The pass provides a connection between the town of Saguache on the west side and the Sangre de Cristo range on the east. There are several lakes in the area, including Blue Lake, which lies just north of the pass. North Pass is a popular destination for hiking, fishing, and camping.
Broad Pass, located in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of Alaska, is a significant mountain pass that offers access to interior Alaska. IT is situated along the Parks Highway, approximately 160 miles north of Anchorage. It is a key geographical feature in the Alaska Range, which spans southern Alaska.Broad Pass is a mountain pass that allows passage through the Alaska Range. It offers a relatively low-elevation route through the mountains and serves as an important transportation corridor.
A high mountain pass that crosses the Continental Divide in the Indian Peaks of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in the United States. It goes up the valley through wooded terrain and makes a short climb to Lake Isabelle. The Cascade Creek Trail continues west from Pawnee Pass. It is an iconic location where you can spend some beautiful time and it is also most photographed location.
The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is one of the most beautiful drives through Colorado. it begins as state highway 7 in Estes Park, brings you past the tiny town of Allenspark on state highway 72, then heads to Nederland. This scenic drive is beautiful year-round, but it’s especially popular in the fall, when the mountains burst into life with the shimmering golden leaves of the changing aspen trees.