Berthoud Pass

Berthoud Pass connects the Fraser Valley (where Winter Park sits) to the Front Range at 3,452 metres on the Continental Divide. The drive over the pass is one of the classic Colorado mountain road experiences — a series of switchbacks through tundra and granite above the tree line, with views back toward the ski resort and forward toward the valleys below.

In summer, the pass area is excellent for hiking along the Continental Divide Trail and for wildflower walks in July and August. In winter, the pass road can be treacherous and requires chains or four-wheel drive in bad conditions — but the views of snow-covered peaks are spectacular. The backcountry skiing terrain on the pass is popular with experienced skiers who make the hike up for untracked powder.

things to do sight
A story
Berthoud Pass was the main crossing of the Continental Divide in central Colorado for over a century before the Eisenhower Tunnel was built in 1973. The pass road reaches 3,452 metres at the summit — high enough that the tree line ends well below and the views span dozens of kilometres. A small ski area operated on the pass from 1937 until 2002; the ungroomed backcountry terrain above it is still used by skiers who skin up for lift-free descents.