Dallas Divide

Dallas Divide (el. 8,983 feet (2,738 m)) is a high mountain pass in the United States state of Colorado located on State Highway 62 about 12 miles (19 km) west of the town of Ridgway.

Dallas Divide
The sign at the top of the pass
Elevation8,983 ft (2,738 m)[1]
Traversed byState Highway 62
LocationOuray / San Miguel counties, Colorado, U.S.
RangeSan Juan Mountains/Uncompahgre Plateau
Coordinates38°05′40″N 107°53′18″W[1]
Topo mapUSGS Sams

The pass is a saddle between the San Juan Mountains to the south and the Uncompahgre Plateau to the north and divides the Uncompahgre River watershed from the San Miguel River watershed and Ouray County from San Miguel County. The pass takes its name from Dallas Creek which drains the basin on the north side of Mount Sneffels into the Uncompahgre River. The divide's namesake is George M. Dallas, 11th Vice President of the United States.[2]

A toll road was first constructed over Dallas Divide in 1880 linking the town of Dallas near Ridgway with Telluride. In 1890 the Rio Grande Southern Railroad was built over the divide from Ridgway to Telluride.

See also


References
  1. "Dallas Divide". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. Dawson, John Frank. Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin. Denver, CO: The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. p. 16.


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