Old Monarch Pass
Old Monarch Pass (Pitkin, CO)
Old Monarch Pass is an easy scenic drive right off US 50, and an alternate route to staying on US 50 over Monarch Pass. In good weather, a passenger vehicle would have no problems following this trail.
This route was originally considered to be the pass that US 50 would go over, however a new pass was constructed that was shorter and contained less dangerous curves, even though the new route ended up costing more. This newly constructed pass was originally called Vail Pass, when Charles Vail named it after himself. But local residents complained and it was renamed to Monarch Pass. Now this route is referred to ‘Old’ Monarch Pass.
The best views on this trails are near the pass itself, which has an 11,375 foot elevation. This trail is not very long and is easily combined with any combination of the other local trails. Plus, it does not see as much traffic as some of the other trails in the area.
If you are using this route as an alternative to US 50, once you reach the end of Old Monarch Pass, you can take a left and follow Tomichi Pass road back to US 50, or you can jump on Black Sage Pass and explore some of the other trails in the area.
Please feel free to leave your comments and post your pictures from Old Monarch Pass below.
Old Monarch Pass KML Track
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Open file above in Google Earth.
