| Monarch Pass |
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Information AboutMonarch Pass |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MONARCH PASS | |
| mountain passes of colorado | |
| u.s. route 50 | |
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Monarch Pass (elevation 11,312 ft) is a high Mountain Pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States . The pass is located on the Continental Divide at the southern end of the Sawatch Range along the border between Gunnison and Chaffee counties, approximately 25 miles (40 km) west of the town of Salida . 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 traversable by all vehicles under most conditions and is generally open year-round. It is prone to heavy winter snowfall however, and is often temporarily closed in heavy winter storms. 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. During the summer, an Aerial Tram from the parking lot at the summit lets visitors ascend to the top of Monarch Ridge above the pass, allowing a wider view of the surrounding peaks. The pass is nearby to Old Monarch Pass , an alternative route that is traversed by a hiking path but is not passable by motor vehicles. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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