• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Caves
      • Colorado Brands
      • Escape Rooms
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Lakes
      • Landmarks
      • Mine Tours
      • Mountains
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Performing Arts
      • Public Parks
      • Rivers
      • Scenic Drives
      • Sightseeing Tours
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Winery Tours
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Jeep Rentals
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowbiking
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Boutique Hotels
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos w/ Lodging
    • Hot Spring w/ Lodging
    • Wineries w/ Lodging
    • Best Hotels
    • Dude Ranches
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
View from North Pass, Colorado
View from North Pass, Colorado. Photo: Jeffrey Beall

North Pass – Saguache-Gunnison

FacebookTwitter

North Pass, sometimes known as North Cochetopa Pass, is an easily accessible mountain pass along State Highway 114 in Colorado. It connects Sagauche County with Gunnison County, offering a beautiful, paved route, accessible year round.

The pass lies along the Continental Divide at 10,010 feet, a few miles north of Cochetopa Pass. This southern route was the original way over the Divide, located on County Road NN14 / Forest Road 750. North Pass has replaced the need to use Cochetopa Pass, but both make for a wonderful drive.

History

North Pass, Colorado
North Pass, Colorado. Photo: David Herrera

The area around North Pass is called Cochetopa Hills, which has a rich human history of native hunters, railway expeditions, and clashes between different groups. North Pass and Cochetopa Pass were used as relatively low elevation opportunities to cross the Continental Divide by foot, wagon, and vehicle.

Throughout the 1920’s, State Highway 114 was slowly built, originally traversing Cochetopa Pass. In 1963, the route over Cochetopa pass was closed and replaced by a paved road over North Pass.

North Pass Accessibility

North Pass is easily accessible by most passenger vehicles during all seasons.

Seasonality – Access to North Pass is typically open all year round, with the occasional closure due to dangerous weather conditions.

Vehicle Restrictions – SH 114 is a paved and well-maintained road that is open to all vehicles. Motorists should be aware of Colorado traction and chain laws when applicable.

Activities near North Pass

There are many opportunities to enjoy the Gunnison and Rio Grande national forests that surround North Pass. Visitors have a wide array of options for hiking, mountain biking, camping, or winter activities. Just south of the pass along SH 114, campers can stay at the Buffalo Pass Campground for just $5 per night.

Read about the Camping near Alamosa, Sand Dunes, and around the San Luis Valley.

Sign at the top of North Pass, Colorado
Sign at the top of North Pass, Colorado. Photo: Jeffrey Beall

Details

Address: State Highway 114, between Saguache and Gunnison

Season: Year Road

Elevation: 10,010 ft (3,068 m)

County: Saguache County

Mountain Range: Rocky Mountains

Coordinates: 38.1629°N 106.5998°W

Access: State Highway 114

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Recent Posts

  • Things to do in October in Colorado
  • Can’t Miss Colorado Mountains
  • Celebrate Oktoberfest in Colorado like a Bavarian
  • 11 Colorful Autumn Drives in Colorado
  • Fantastic Fall Activities in Colorado

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer—Terms of Service
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Summer Activities

  • Amusement Parks
  • Camping
  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides
  • Waterfalls

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise