List of Rocky Mountain passes on the continental divide
This is a list of Rocky Mountain passes on the Continental Divide of the Americas.
Major Passes
Note Column:A=Automobile road R=Railway E=Used by early explorers *=not strictly a mountain pass on continental divide, included for reference.
| Location | Note | Name | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CANADA | ||||
| Yukon and British Columbia | ||||
| 67°??'N | *E | Unnamed portage | From the Mackenzie river to the Yukon River. See Canadian canoe routes#Pacific coast | |
| 60°04′25″N 130°56′30″W | *A | Alaska Highway | The Alaska Highway crossing of the Continental Divide in south central Yukon, also known as Yukon Hwy 1. Bering Sea or Arctic Ocean drainage. | |
| 58°26′00″N 130°01′27″W | *A | Dease Lake, British Columbia | The town is sited on and straddles a gap that is the continental divide and the Stewart-Cassiar Highway (also known as BC Hwy 37) passes through the town as well, thus also crossing the divide at that point. Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. | |
| 54°15'N | *A | Summit Lake, British Columbia | 710m | on British Columbia Highway 97 from Dawson Creek See Pine Pass(?). Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. |
| 54°1?'N | *E | low point used by Alexander Mackenzie in 1793 | ||
| 53°58′00″N 120°13′00″W | McGregor Pass | 1555 | Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. | |
| Alberta/British Columbia border. | ||||
| 53°10′02″N 119°07′34″W | Robson Pass | 1,652 m (5,420 ft) | near Mount Robson. Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. | |
| 52°53′33″N 118°27′50″W | AR | Yellowhead Pass | 1,131 m (3,711 ft) | near Jasper, Alberta. Canadian Northern Railway (1910), north branch of the Trans-Canada Highway. Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. |
| 52°22′35″N 118°11′00″W | E | Athabasca Pass | 1,753 m (5,751 ft) | Main fur-trade pass from 1811. Used by the York Factory Express. Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. |
| 51°48′N 116°45′W | E | Howse Pass | 1,539 m (5,049 ft) | First post-Mackenzie pass (1807). rarely used. Pacific or Atlantic Ocean drainage. |
| 51°27′10″N 116°17′00″W | AR | Kicking Horse Pass | 1,627 m (5,338 ft) | Near Lake Louise, Alberta. Canadian Pacific Railway (1880s), south branch of the Trans-Canada Highway. Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. |
| 51°13′39″N 116°02′59″W | A | Vermilion Pass | 1,680 m (5,512 ft) | Near Banff, Alberta, Highway 93 south to Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia. Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. |
| 51°04′51″N 115°49′47″W | E | Simpson Pass | 2,107 m (6,913 ft) | rarely used, southwest of Banff, found by Sir George Simpson in 1841. Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. |
| 49°37′57″N 114°41′33″W | AR | Crowsnest Pass | 1,358 m (4,455 ft) | only road pass between Banff and US border. Canadian Pacific Railway (1898). Pacific or Arctic Ocean drainage. |
| 49°00'N* | UNITED STATES | |||
| Montana | ||||
| 48°41′47.72″N 113°43′5.91″W | A | Logan Pass | 6,646 ft (2,026 m) | Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Divides Pacific and Arctic Ocean drainages. |
| 48.318321°N 113.355255°W | AR | Marias Pass | 5,213 ft (1,589 m) | Great Northern Railroad 1889 (now used by BNSF Railway), US Highway 2. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 47.142701°N 112.428915°W | E | Lewis and Clark Pass | 6,424 ft (1,958 m) | Possibly used on Meriwether Lewis's return route, foot trail and unimproved road. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 47°04′35″N 112°22′11″W | A | Rogers Pass | 5,610 ft (1,710 m) | Montana Highway 200. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 46.9753°N 112.3583°W | A | Flesher Pass | Montana Secondary Highway 279. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. | |
| 46.8936°N 112.4956°W | A | Stemple Pass | Unimproved road. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. | |
| 46.6434°N 112.3138°W | AER | Mullan Pass | 5,902 ft (1,799 m) | Mullan Road, Northern Pacific Railroad (now used by Montana Rail Link), unimproved road. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 46.6194°N 112.2986°W | A | Priest Pass | Unimproved road. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. | |
| 46.5614°N 112.3086°W | A | MacDonald Pass | 6,312 ft (1,924 m) | US Highway 12. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 45.0364°N 112.4592°W | AR | Elk Park Pass | 6,352 ft (1,936 m) | Great Northern Railroad (abandoned), Interstate 15. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 45.9221°N 112.4161°W | AR | Homestake Pass | 6,329 ft (1,929 m) | Northern Pacific Railroad (now used by BNSF Railway, inactive), Interstate 90. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 45.8597°N 112.4334°W | AR | Pipestone Pass | 6,453 ft (1,967 m) | Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (abandoned), Montana Highway 2. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 45.8828°N 112.6725°W | AR | Deer Lodge Pass | 5,879 ft (1,792 m) | Utah and Northern Railway (now used by Union Pacific), Interstate 15. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 45.7469°N 112.9000°W | AE | Gibbons Pass | 2,117 m (6,946 ft) | Nez Perce National Historic Trail, possibly used on William Clark's return route, unimproved road. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| Along Montana / Idaho border | ||||
| 45°41.0′N 113°56.0′W | A | Chief Joseph Pass | 7,251 ft (2,210 m) | Montana Highway 43. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 45.5497°N 113.8203°W | A | Big Hole Pass | 7,055 ft (2,150 m) | Unimproved road. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 44°58′27″N 113°26′42″W | AE | Lemhi Pass | 7,373 ft (2,247 m) | Lewis and Clark Expedition outbound crossing of Continental Divide, unimproved road. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 44.8144°N 113.2719°W | AR | Bannock Pass | 7,684 ft (2,342 m) | Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad (abandoned), Idaho Highway 29. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 44.55861°N 112.30556°W | AR | Monida Pass | 6,820 ft (2,079 m) | Utah and Northern Railway (now used by Union Pacific), Interstate 15. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 44.5989°N 111.5236°W | A | Red Rock Pass | Unimproved road. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. | |
| 44°42.6′N 111°28.2′W | AE | Raynolds Pass | 6,844 ft (2,086 m | Raynolds Expedition, Montana Highway 87. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| 44.6747°N 112.2758°E | A | Targhee Pass | 7,072 ft (2156 m) | US Highway 20. Divides Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainages. |
| Montana / Idaho / Wyoming border | ||||
| 44°26′30″N 110°43′11″W | A | Craig Pass | 8,262 ft (2,518 m | U.S. Route 191, in Yellowstone National Park. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 44°2′28″N 110°10′3″W | Two Ocean Pass | 8,130 ft (2,478 m) | In the Teton Wilderness. Notable for the Parting of the Waters.Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. | |
| 43°45′0″N 110°4′48″W | A | Togwotee Pass | 9,658 ft (2,944 m) | U.S. Route 287 and U.S. Route 26. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 42°22′12″N 108°54′49″W | * | South Pass | 7,412 ft (2,259 m) | Part of a mountain-free area in southwest Wyoming. Oregon Trail and Interstate 80. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 41°00'N | Colorado north border | |||
| 40°23′5″N 106°36′42″W | A | Rabbit Ears Pass | 9,426 ft (2,873 m) | U.S. Route 40. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 40°22′36″N 106°34′47″W | A | Muddy Pass | 8,772 ft (2,674 m) | U.S. Route 40. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 40°21′02″N 106°05′32″W | A | Willow Creek Pass | 9,659 ft (2,844 m) | Colorado State Highway 125. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 40°25′11″N 105°48′41″W | A | Milner Pass | 10,759 ft (3,279 m) | U.S. Route 34 in Rocky Mountain National Park. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 40°28′36″N 105°49′24″W | La Poudre Pass | 10,184 ft (3,104 m) | Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. | |
| 39.90235°N 105.6461°W | *R | Moffat Tunnel | 9,239 ft (2,816 m) | Railway tunnel finished in 1928. Avoids Rollins Pass 11,677 ft (3,559 m)Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 39°40′44″N 105°55′12″W | *A | Eisenhower Tunnel | 11,158 feet (3,401 m) | Interstate 70 to Denver. The highest point on the interstate system in the US. Avoids Loveland Pass. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 39°39′49″N 105°52′45″W | A | Loveland Pass | 11,990 ft (3,655 m) | US Highway 6. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 39°21′42″N 106°03′45″W | A | Hoosier Pass | 11,542 ft (3,518 m) | Colorado State Highway 9. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 39°21′59″N 106°11′12″W | AR | Fremont Pass | 11,318 feet (3,450 m) | Colorado State Highway 91, former railroad lines of Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad whose southern approach is operated by Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad and Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. |
| 39°21′45″N 106°18′40″W | AR | Tennessee Pass | 10,424 ft (3,177 m) | U.S. Route 24, former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad main line. |
| 39°15′54″N 106°29′02″W | R | Hagerman Pass | 11,925 feet (3,635 m) | Former Colorado Midland Railway via Hagerman Tunnel and later Busk–Ivanhoe Tunnel, unpaved road. |
| 39°6′29″N 106°33′52″W | A | Independence Pass | 12,095 ft (3,687 m) | Colorado State Highway 82. Until 2019, the highest paved crossing of Divide in US; now the second-highest behind Cottonwood Pass (see next line). Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 38°49′40″N 106°24′33″W | A | Cottonwood Pass | 12,126 ft (3,696 m) | Chaffee County Route 306. Until 2019, the highest unpaved road crossing of a pass in Colorado; now the highest paved crossing of Divide in US. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 38°38′45″N 106°24′32″W | *R | Alpine Tunnel | 11,523 feet (3,512 m) | Alpine Tunnel, first tunnel over Continental Divide in Colorado, highest railroad tunnel and at 1,772 ft (540 m) longest narrow-gauge tunnel in North America. Tunnel abandoned since 1910, impassable, unpaved road on approaches, reconstructed telegraph office with station platform near southern (wester |
| 38°29′48″N 106°19′30″W | A | Monarch Pass | 11,312 ft (3,448 m) | US Highway 50. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 38°23′29″N 106°14′50″W | AR | Marshall Pass | 10,842 ft (3,305 m) | former narrow-gauge railroad closed in 1955. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 38°13′00″N 106°34′32″W | A | North Pass | 10,010 ft (3,051 m) | Colorado State Highway 114. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 37°56′27″N 107°09′33″W | A | Spring Creek Pass | 10,889 ft (3,319 m) | Traversed by Colorado State Highway 149, notably lower that Slumgullion Pass dividing just tributaries of Gunnison River that is also traversed by SH 149. |
| 37°29′00″N 106°48′11″W | A | Wolf Creek Pass | 10,857 ft (3,309 m) | U.S. Highway 160. Pacific or Gulf of Mexico drainage. |
| 37°00'N* | Colorado south border | |||
Passes including Trails
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See also
- Rocky Mountains
- Canadian Rockies
- Central Rocky Mountains
- Western Rocky Mountains
- Southern Rocky Mountains
- Mountain pass
- List of mountain passes in Colorado
- List of mountain passes in Montana
- List of mountain passes in Wyoming
- List of passes of the Rocky Mountains
- List of railroad crossings of the Continental Divide of North America
References
- Elevations in the United States are from the United States Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset except where otherwise noted. Please see the National Elevation Dataset. These elevations are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 and may differ from traditional sources.
- A highway or railroad may cross a ridge at a higher or lower elevation than the natural saddle point.
- Locations in Canada are from the Natural Resources Canada Canadian Geographical Names Data Base. Please see Canadian Geographical Names Archived 2013-04-06 at the Wayback Machine. Locations in the United States are referenced to the United States Board on Geographic Names Geographic Names Information System. Please see the Geographic Names Information System. All these locations are referenced to the North American Datum of 1983.
- A highway or railroad may cross a ridge at a point other than the natural saddle point.
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