Mosquito Pass - Leadville, CO
Posted by: 
94RedRover
N 39° 15.575 W 106° 13.110
13S E 394872 N 4346290
Mosquito Pass, reaching 13,185 feet, is said to be the highest pass accessible to vehicular travel in Colorado. Once used to haul mining supplies and passengers, this road is now used for off-road use and Burro Races.
Waymark Code: WM7128
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 08/17/2009
Views: 10
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 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.
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 additional coordinates below will lead you to the trailhead on the Alma side of the pass.
The trail is 13.6 miles and one should allow 2-3 hours for travel...stopping to gawk along the way will make the trip longer. Rated at moderate difficulty level, the steep, rocky incline would be best traveled by vehicles with high ground clearance. The west side of the pass (Leadville side) is a narrow, rocky ledge with some switchbacks, that quickly bring you up to the 13,185 foot pass. You'll continue on this rocky ledge over the pass eastward, until you pass the London mine. The road becomes somewhat wider and more level at this point.
Overall Trail Difficulty: Somewhat easy
Land Ownership: Public
Popularity: Moderate
Highest Altitude: 13,185 feet
Trail Length (approx): 13.6 miles
Parking availble?: No
Room for Trailers: No
Permit required to access area?: No
Camping sites nearby: Yes
Are OHVs permitted: No
Additional Trailhead: N 39° 16.716 W 106° 05.226
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Visit Instructions:
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