Road trip guide: Conquering Waunita Pass in Colorado
Waunita Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,143m (10,311ft) above sea level located in Gunnison County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The area can be very treacherous during the winter months.
Where is Waunita Pass?
The pass is located south of Pitkin, in the central part of Colorado, within the Gunnison National Forest. The top of the pass is all pine forest.
Is Waunita Pass unpaved?
The road to the summit is totally unpaved but suitable for most 2WD automobiles in dry weather. 4WD is advisable at times of inclement weather. It’s called Waunita Pass Road (County Road 763). It has switchbacks on both the north and south side of the pass that climb through the forest. The road is steep, hitting an 8% maximum gradient through some of the ramps.
When was the road through Waunita Pass built?
It’s an old mining road built at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s.
Is Waunita Pass open in winter?
The road is totally impassable in winters due to heavy snowfalls.
How long is Waunita Pass?
The pass road is 16.57km (10.3 miles) long, running north-south from Pitkin to County Road 887, and offers lots of magnificent views and scenery.
Pic: Eric Yackel