Red Mountain Pass - , Colorado

Luis Aleman

Experiencia única, impresionante!!!

Garret Albaugh

Absolutely amazing display of the power of our planet. The monumental forces that lifted these mountains is apparent in their height. It's also a great place to understand what mineralization on a massive scale looks like

Stephen Dow

Not much room for parking but it's a place worth checking out. It's just over 11,100 feet if I remember correctly?

If you drive a little south of the main pass (sign and parking areas) there's a dirt road pullout on the right that will allow you to get some great shots of Indian Paint Brush and other mountain wildflowers in season (see photos). We were there late in June 2017 and there were plenty of wildflowers - and some mountain views.

If you're heading south from here, get ready for a really wild ride into Ouray! Be sure to stop at Uncompahgre Gorge - especially if there's still snow in the high mountains and passes!

Milen Patel

Very cool but equally nerve-wrecking experience for us first timers. We took a 2023 Toyota 4runner with 4 wheel drive. This was our first ever off road experience and honestly we probably should have warmed up with something easier. We owe all of our success to the kind people around us who helped guide our way! That being said, we were extremely lucky with dry weather and no wet road conditions!

We started off at irontown park off of the million dollar highway. We then took at right onto corkscrew gulch and followed that road really slowly up to red moutain 1 and 2 view points.

We then took hurricane pass to the top of the mountain which had a great view of lake como. From there we went down but PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE DOWN TO LAKE COMO UNLESS YOU ARE IN A VERY CAPABLE CAR! We nearly flipped our car over at the base of the lake. If it wasn't for Two angels (Tom and Steve) we would have been stuck! (Do not take Poughkeepsie gulch unless you have a great car!)

From there we took the California pass and then decided to take the easy route to Silverton than risk it on the engineer pass.

It was an awesome experience but slow and steady for first timers and always remember the people going up hill have the right of way.

Learn signals so you know how many cars are coming behind the one way traffic flow.

Celeste Ruppelt

The Red Mountain Pass, elevation 11,018 ft., is where the wooden head frames and trestles of the old Idarado Mine are still visible. They are right alongside US 550 as it crests the pass. There is a safe pull out for parking across the highway. The mine closed in 1982 and remediation work began soon after that, but the runoff water is still a sick yellow and orange color.
The sign posted discusses how much ore was removed and indicates how helpful to the WWII economy this ore was. It would be helpful to people today to get this mess cleaned up. Some mention of the remediation work is made.
The pass is known for being treacherous in the wintertime due to the steep 8% grade and switchbacks on the north side facing Ouray, though the entire road is paved. Avalanches, water falling, and rock falls are frequent, and can block the highway for some time. The highway is most dangerous in the rain, when water-loosened rock can break loose from above and bounce down the mountain, with the potential of landing on your vehicle.
The mine site is completely closed, and abandoned; no tours are given and no one is supposed to cross behind the raised trestle. I saw no sign of any remediation work going on.

Jake JonMichael

Took my 2 wheel drive through this pass in a winter blizzard with 15 inches of snow. It was an absolutely crazy drive but beautiful. Be sure to talk with the locals about the conditions. The snowplow operators are very friendly if you can catch them pulled over!

JAMES ELLIS

We took motorcycles in the rain down this pass. Even with the rain it gets 5 star rating for beauty!
It’s a must go to if your out that way!!

s a

If you are a flat lander, have anxiety with heights, this drive will challenge you.
A lot of this road has sheer cliffs and drops with no guardrail.
There is tension between those who are wanting to go at a slow pace and those who want to move along faster.
I did this ride with my sister, and we did not know what we getting ourselves into. It was a bit of a knuckle biter for us. Scary, yet exciting and beautiful.
It was very worthwhile, but I think if we knew knew what was coming, we would have chickened out .
I recommend it as it became an unexpected highlight of our trip.