
North La Veta Pass is a challenging paved road of Colorado
Usa, north-america
77.24 km
2,869 m
moderate
Year-round
Cruising through southern Colorado? You absolutely HAVE to experience North La Veta Pass! Perched way up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at a cool 9,413 feet, this paved beauty (also known as New La Veta Pass) straddles Costilla and Huerfano counties.
Think of it as U.S. Highway 160's stylish upgrade โ a smooth, two-lane highway that gracefully sidesteps the old, gnarlier La Veta Pass. It's now the main way through this part of the mountains.
This road stretches for about 48 miles, connecting Fort Garland to Walsenburg. The views? Seriously stunning! But be warned: those steep drop-offs on the side can be a little intense in daylight. Some say it's best to hit it at night, when the drama is hidden. Even though the road is well-maintained and avoids crazy sharp turns, you'll feel like you're adventuring in a place roads weren't really meant to be! It's located southeast of the Sangre de Cristo Pass.
Where is it?
North La Veta Pass is a challenging paved road of Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 39.4294, -99.3608
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 77.24 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,869 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 39.4294, -99.3608
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