Mosquito Pass - 13,185 feet - Leadville, CO - Elevation Signs on Waymarking.com

Mosquito Pass, just east of Leadville, leads over the mountains to Alma. In 1879, it was built as part of the toll road from Denver to the mines at Leadville. Once it was called the "fast freight route" and the fare from Fairplay to Leadville was $6!

Once the railroad was run through Leadville, use for this toll road diminished. Due to it's altitude and steepness, use of the road was limited to only the summer months. As it was on July 31, 2009, we ventured up the pass under a blanket of fresh snow cover.

Father John Dyer, called "The Snowshoe Itinerant" was notorious for carrying gold and mail over this pass in the winter, wearing 10 foot snowshoes!

The pass road takes you from the Diamond mine in Leadville, past the North London Mine, the largest producing mine in the area, and all the way to Alma and Fairplay.

The infamous Burro Races held during the "Boom Days" celebration in Leadville and Fairplay run over this pass. Traditionally the event would alternate directions over the pass each year, now each town has it's own up and downhill race.

Location: Mosquito Pass - Leadville, CO Posted Elevation: 13,185 feet GPSR Elevation: 13,144 feet

Visit Instructions:
Photos are not required, but they are encouraged.

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Date Logged Log   09/19/2015 mr.volkswagen visited it