Travel guide to the top of Coal Bank Pass in Colorado
Usa, north-america
N/A
3,243 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so picture this: Coal Bank Pass, sitting pretty at 10,640 feet in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. You'll find it south of Silverton, right on U.S. Highway 550 – aka the legendary Million Dollar Highway!
This pass is totally paved, making it a smooth ride for most cars. Think of it as the chillest of the three high-mountain passes around here, right after Molas and Red Mountain Pass.
Heads up, though! The south side has some seriously steep sections dropping down towards Durango. We're talking a consistent 6.5% grade with some ramps hitting 8%! Thankfully, there's a runaway truck ramp, just in case.
You can tackle this pass year-round, but winter is a whole different ballgame. Snowfall can get intense, leading to restrictions and closures. But hey, if you're lucky enough to catch it on a clear day, the views are unreal. The San Juan National Forest is pure eye candy – think American Alps vibes!
Where is it?
Travel guide to the top of Coal Bank Pass in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 41.1738, -96.9047
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 3,243 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 41.1738, -96.9047
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