Old Monarch Pass

Monarch Pass
Sign at the summit
Elevation	11,312 ft (3,448 m)
Traversed by	US 50
Location	Chaffee / Gunnison counties, Colorado, U.S.
Range	Sawatch Range
Coordinates	38°29′48″N 106°19′30″W / 38.49667°N 106.32500°W / 38.49667; -106.32500
Topo map	USGS Pahlone Peak

Monarch Pass, elevation 11,312 feet (3,448 m), is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States.

The pass is located on the Continental Divide at the southern end of the Sawatch Range along the border between Gunnison and Chaffee counties, approximately 25 miles (40 km) west of the town of Salida. The pass carries U.S. Highway 50 over the Sawatch Range, providing a route between Tomichi Creek in the upper basin of the Gunnison River on the west and the South Arkansas River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, on the east. The pass can be traversed by all vehicles under most conditions and is generally open year-round; however, 7% grades exist, and the area is prone to heavy winter snowfall, often resulting in temporary closures during severe winter storms. Ramps for runaway trucks are located about halfway down both the eastern and western sides of the pass. Much of the highway over the pass is three-lane.

The pass is widely considered one of the most scenic in Colorado, offering a panoramic view of the southern end of the Sawatch Range from the summit. During the summer, an aerial tram from the parking lot at the summit carries visitors to the top of Monarch Ridge above the pass (at approximately 12,000 feet (3,700 m) above sea level), allowing a wider view of the surrounding peaks. During the winter, visitors enjoy skiing at Monarch ski area. Monarch Mountain Lodge is located about 5 miles from the summit of the pass.

An unpaved road over Old Monarch Pass, elevation 11,365 feet (3,464 m), connects to U.S. 50 on both sides of the Divide. This road can be traversed by passenger vehicles at most times during the summer and early fall months. However, heavy rainfalls occasionally wash out the east entrance to the pass. Check with a local ranger station for current conditions.