State Historical Society of Colorado Markers

Plaques Located at Colorado Mountain Passes

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Berthoud Pass
Clear Creek County
US-40 north of Empire
N 39°47'54" W 105°46'34"
Photos from 5/21/05 and 9/20/08 showing old and new monument at pass.

     

     
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Berthoud Pass. Across the Continental Divide between South Platte and Colorado River drainages. Altitude 11,314 feet. Discovered by Capt. E. L. Berthoud, Colorado pioneer, May 12, 1861. Surveyed by Berthoud and Jim Bridger July, 1861. Toll road opened 1874. Improved highway opened 1923. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service, 1929.

Cameron Pass
Larimer County
At Cameron Pass on north side of CO-14. Bronze plaque is missing from stone.
N 40°31'15" W 105°53'32"
photos taken 8/1/09
     
Bronze plaque read: This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Cameron Pass. Across the Continental Divide between Cache la Poudre and Michigan rivers. Altitude 10,285. Discovered 1870 by R.A. Cameron, founder of Fort Collins. Used as an early mail and freight route. Improved highway opened 1926. Erected with the U.S. Forest Service, 1929.

Cochetopa Pass
Saguache County
County Road NN14 west of Saguache
N 38°09'47" W 106°36'01"
photos taken 7/5/07
        
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Cochetopa Pass. Across Continental Divide between Rio Grande and Gunnison River drainages. Altitude 10,032 feet. The "buffalo gate" of the Utes. On early pack trail to California. Surveyed by Gunnison and by Fremont for railroad route, 1853. Toll road built 1869. Improved highway opened 1914. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service, 1929.

Cumbres Pass
Conejos County
CO-17 west of Antonito
N 37°01'14" W 106°26'58"
photos taken 7/15/06
     
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Cumbres Pass. Near Continental Divide between the waters of the Rio Grande and the San Juan. "Cumbres" is Spanish for "summits". Altitude 10,022 feet. Railroad built 1880. Toll road built 1881. Improved highway opened 1923. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service, 1929.

Fremont Pass
Lake County
CO-91 east of Leadville
N 39°21'59" W 106°11'10"
photos taken 8/6/05
        

              
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Fremont Pass. On Continental Divide between Arkansas and Blue River drainages. Altitude 11,316 feet. Western boundary of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Named in honor of John C. Fremont, famous western explorer. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the Mount Massive Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of Leadville. 1930.

Gore Pass
Grand County
CO-134 northwest of Kremmling. On south side of CO-134 at entrance to camp ground.
N 40°04'29" W 106°33'37"
photos taken 8/11/07
     
This tablet is the property of the State of Colorado. Gore Pass. Altitude 9,000 feet. Here in 1855 crossed Sir St. George Gore, an Irish baronet bent on slaughter of game and guided by Jim Bridger. For three years, he scoured Colorado, Montana and Wyoming accompanied usually by forty men, many carts, wagons, hounds and unexampled camp luxuries. More than 2,000 buffalo, 1,600 elk and deer, 100 bears were massacred for sport. A trail by 1866, a wagon road by 1874, this modern highway opened 1956. Erected by the citizens of Routt and Grand counties and the State Historical Society of Colorado through the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation.

Hoosier Pass
Park County
CO-9 north of Fairplay
N 39°21'42" W 106°03'43"
photos taken 8/6/05
     
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Hoosier Pass. Across Continental Divide between South Park and the Blue River. Altitude 11,542 feet. Crossed by Fremont 1844. Named for Hoosier Gulch. Discovered and worked as a placer camp by Indiana men 1860. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service. 1929.

South Park (at Kenosha Pass)
Park County
US-285 east of Jefferson
N 39°24'13" W 105°45'16"
photos taken 4/25/08
              
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Spread before you lies the famous South Park entered by Kenosha Pass, elevation 10,000 feet. The Bayou Salado of early trappers, favorite Indian hunting ground, and frequent battleground. Visited by Z.M. Pike in 1806. Crossed by J.C. Fremont in 1844. Permanent settlement inaugurated by gold discoveries in 1859. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by State Civil Service Employees of Colorado, 1932.

(Old) La Veta Pass
Huerfano County
Old US-160 west of Alamosa. Stone marker is there, but bronze plaque was missing prior to 1970.
N 37°35'36" W 105°12'145"
photos taken 4/23/05
  
La Veta Pass. Between the waters of the Arkansas and the Rio Grande. Altitude 9,382 feet. "La Veta" is Spanish for "the vein." Named for the mineral veins appearing on the mountains. Narrow guage railroad built 1877. Railroad later re-located. Abandoned grade converted into highway 1921-22. Erected 1929.

(Old) Monarch Pass
Chaffee County
FR-237 north of Monarch Pass on US-40 west of Poncha Springs. Stone marker is there, but bronze plaque was missing prior to 1970.
N 38°29'52" W 106°20'16"
photos taken 6/11/05
        
Monarch Pass. Across the Continental Divide between Arkansas and Gunnison River drainages. Altitude 11,386 feet. The Monarch Mining District, opened in the late seventies, lies east of the pass. Improved highway opened 1921. Erected with the U.S. Forest Service, 1929.

(Old) Rabbit Ears Pass
Jackson County
FR-315 north of Rabbit Ears Pass on US-40 southeast of Steamboat Springs
N 40°23'59" W 106°37'05"
photos taken 8/12/07
        
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Rabbit Ears Pass. Across Continental Divide between North Park and the Yampa River. Altitude 9,680 feet. Named from Rabbit Ears Peak which was so called by earliest trappers because of its appearance. Improved highway opened 1919. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service. 1929.

Raton Pass
Las Animas County
I-25 south of Trinidad. At old north-bound rest area.
N 36°59'37" W 104°27'26"
photos taken 4/23/05
     
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Raton Pass. Between Colorado and New Mexico. Altitude 7,881 feet. "Raton" is Spanish for "mouse." On mountain branch Santa Fe Trail, crossed by Kearny's Army of the West in the Mexican War and by First Regiment, Colorado Volunteers in the Civil War. "Uncle Dick" Wootton's toll road built 1865. Railroad constructed 1878. Improved highway built 1919-1922. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department. 1929.

Red Mountain Pass
Ouray County
US-550 south of Ouray
N 37°53'56" W 107°42'415"
photos taken 7/16/06
     
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Red Mountain Pass. Across divide between Uncompahgre and Animas Rivers. Altitude 11,018 feet. "The Million Dollar Highway" toll road built by Otto Mears 1882. Improved highway opened 1924. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service. 1929.

Tennessee Pass
Lake County
US-24 north of Leadville
N 39°18'44" W 106°18' 39"
photos taken 6/3/08
           
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Tennessee Pass. Across Continental Divide between Arkansas and Eagle Rivers. Altitude 10,424 feet. Named from Tennessee Fork of the Arkansas. Explored by Fremont and Kit Carson 1845. Railroad constructed 1881. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service. 1929.

Ute Pass
El Paso County
Manitou Springs - Plaque is located on a very large boulder on the east side of Manitou Avenue at the north edge of Manitou Springs, right before the merge onto north-bound US-24.
N 38°52'13" W 104°55' 33"
photos taken 3/26/08
        
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Ute Pass. Named from the Old Ute Trail which led from South Park through Manitou to the plains. Traversed by the Utes on hunting and war expeditions. Improved highway built 1916-28. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service. 1929.

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Last modified: September 20, 2009