Where is Yellowjacket Pass?

Where is Yellowjacket Pass?

Usa, north-america

Length

65.01 km

Elevation

2,373 m

Difficulty

easy

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, so picture this: Yellowjacket Pass, hanging out way up high in southwestern Colorado, smack-dab in the San Juan National Forest. We're talking 7,785 feet above sea level, people! The road itself? Totally paved – it's actually U.S. Route 160 – so no need to worry about your tires. You can usually hit this pass year-round, but keep an eye on the weather in winter, because things can get dicey and they might shut it down for a bit.

This beauty stretches for about 40 awesome miles, connecting Bayfield on the west to Pagosa Springs on the east. Plus, if you're feeling adventurous, there's a little gravel side trip just west of the pass that takes you even higher, up to a relay station at 8,412 feet! Seriously, the views are killer.

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Road Details

Country
Usa
Continent
north-america
Length
65.01 km
Max Elevation
2,373 m
Difficulty
easy

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