Driving the paved mountain road to Poncha Pass in Colorado
Usa, north-america
34.76 km
2,751 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, so you're heading to Colorado? You HAVE to drive Poncha Pass! This beauty sits at 9,025 feet, right on the border between Saguache and Chaffee counties in south-central Colorado. It's like the ultimate connector, linking the San Luis Valley to the south with the Arkansas River valley to the north, and it neatly divides the Rio Grande and Arkansas River watersheds.
The whole route is paved – you'll be cruising on U.S. Highway 285. And the best part? The slopes are super gentle, barely hitting 5% on the south side.
Get ready for a 21.6-mile (34.76 km) scenic stretch from Villa Grove to Poncha Springs.
Perched where the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Mountains meet, Poncha Pass is one of the lowest high-altitude passes in Colorado. Usually, you can drive it year-round, but keep an eye on the weather in winter – things can get dicey and closures can happen. Watch out for falling rocks and debris, and be aware that mudslides can sometimes shut the road down!
Where is it?
Driving the paved mountain road to Poncha Pass in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 40.7825, -98.1302
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 34.76 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,751 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 40.7825, -98.1302
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