Cumbres Pass
Encyclopedia
Cumbres Pass, elevation 10020 ft (3,054.1 m), is a mountain pass
in the San Juan Mountains
of Colorado
. The pass is traversed by State Highway 17 and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
. The highway has a moderate 5.8% approach on the north side and a gentler, 4% approach on the south side. It is rarely closed in winter and does not normally cause problems for vehicles, since the road is not a major through highway.
The railroad and Cumbres station were built in the 1880s by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The original section house, car inspectors house, and remains of the old snowshed remain on Cumbres Pass, whereas the placement of the original station and other missing structures have yet to be determined by the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in the San Juan Mountains
San Juan Mountains
The San Juan Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado. The area is highly mineralized and figured in the gold and silver mining industry of early Colorado. Major towns, all old mining camps, include Creede, Lake City, Silverton, Ouray, and...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. The pass is traversed by State Highway 17 and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It runs over the Cumbres Pass, the highest point on a US passenger railway....
. The highway has a moderate 5.8% approach on the north side and a gentler, 4% approach on the south side. It is rarely closed in winter and does not normally cause problems for vehicles, since the road is not a major through highway.
The railroad and Cumbres station were built in the 1880s by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The original section house, car inspectors house, and remains of the old snowshed remain on Cumbres Pass, whereas the placement of the original station and other missing structures have yet to be determined by the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad.