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Boreas Pass Summit County Colorado

Boreas Pass – Como-Breckenridge

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Boreas Pass makes a great summer route to reach Breckenridge from the south. The 22-miles drive leads you from Como in Park County, up over an 11,481-foot summit, down into Summit County and Breckenridge.

Pronounced Bore-ays, Boreas Pass is a stunning hour long drive through Colorado’s central Rockies, connecting Park and Summit counties. It links the historic village of Como to the thriving resort town of Breckenridge.

Whether you start in Breck or Como, the drive will be exciting and relatively quick. The route is suitable for low-clearance 2WD cars, although it does get a little bumpy in some areas, for the most part, it’s an easy, high-alpine drive. It summits at 11,481 feet above sea level.

Boreas Pass Bakers Take
Bakers Tank on Boreas Pass.

History

The originally began as Breckenridge Pass in the 1860s as a route to reach the gold mines. It was widened to a wagon road that could handle stagecoaches in 1866. IN 1882 a railroad track was laid, connecting Como and Breckenridge. It ran until 1937. It was made into an automobile pass in 1952.

Road Route

Boreas Pass Red Road Clouds Colorado
Cloudy day on the red road.

Situated on Highway 285, just east of Fairplay, Como makes a great starting point because then you can spend your day after in Breck. Como doesn’t offer any amenities, so fuel up well before then. A former railroad town, Como was connected to Breck only by train in its heyday. Boreas Pass was originally the nation’s highest narrow-gauge railroad, running from 1872 to 1938. During WWII the train tracks were picked up for resources. In 1952 the pass was converted into an automobile friendly road.

Take your time on the drive, as the sights are spectacular and the journey is the attraction. At the top of Boreas Pass is the Section House, part of a former railroad community of 150, which is presently open during the winter season for rental by cross country skiers. On the trek down into Breckeridge, you’ll get gorgeous views of the Blue River Valley and Tenmile Range. You’ll also pass the Bakers Tank, another gem from Colorado’s past.

Activities

Boreas Pass Hiking Trail
Rocky Point Trail.

Biking – Hiking and biking are the main draws, as well as off-highway vehicles. If you plan to hike or bike, you can park at a number of trailheads, including the Bakers Tank Trailhead, 3.5 miles out of Breckenridge. This is the same place you’d park if you were cross country skiing in the winter. Bikers also make use of the pass directly.

Camping – Dispersed campsites are fairly easy to find on both sides of the pass, just look for pullovers for your car and then a firering. Some sites are down off the road in the forest, so you may have to scan for a bit before finding one. When I passed through on a summer Saturday evening, nearly all the campsites were open, so it shouldn’t be too hard to secure a spot and pitch your tent.

Boreas Pass Dispersed Campsite
Dispersed campsite.

There is one campground on the Summit County side called Selkirk CG. It houses fifteen campsites, each with a table and a fire ring. There are vault toilets, but no water available. It’s first-come, first-serve.

Read about the Camping near Como, around South Park.

Read about the Camping near Breckenridge, around Summit County.

Hiking – There are numerous trails on the pass.

OHV – Dirt bikes, ATVs and snowmobiles are permitted on certain sections.

Winter Recreation – Cross country skiers can rent out the Section House, which is open only in the winter. Snowshowing and snowmobiling are common winter activities.

Getting There

Boreas Pass Mileage Sign
Mileage sign in Como.

From Como – Take Highway 285 to Como, and then north into town. Follow signs for Boreas Pass and you can’t miss it.

From Breckenridge – Go to the south end of town and take a left onto Boreas Pass Road/County Road 10. Follow that to Como.

Boreas Pass Cliffs
Roadside rocks.

The route crosses the Continental Divide at the headwaters of two famous Colorado rivers: Blue River and South Platte River. The Blue River flows north through Breckenridge before connecting with the Colorado River in Kremmling. The South Platte River flows south into South Park basin before meandering its way out past Deckers and up through Denver.

Boreas makes a great alternative route to Breckenridge from Highway 285, instead of the normal Hoosier Pass, which is a paved road connecting with Fairplay. It closes in the winter, but you can still access a few miles on either side for recreation. Cross country skiers can trek to the top and stay the night at the Section House.

The road is lined with aspens making it a perfect autumn drive. It’s a low-clearance, 2WD road, but it’s dirt in places, so bad weather may deter non 4x4s.

Starting out in historic Como Colorado.
21 miles from Como to Breck.
Boreas Pass Historic Auto Tour.
Downtown Como.
Former train depot.
Mountain Man Gallery.
Church.
Schoolhouse.
Heading out on County Road 33.
Reaching the woods.
County Road 50 ventures off to North Tarryall Creek.
Steep narrow road for one mile.
Part of that one mile.
Gorgeous views into Park County.
Mile marker 5.
Rocky Point Trailhead.
Part of the original tracks.
Rocky Point.
Back on the road.
One mile detour for Selkirk Campground.
Winding through the national forest.
Dispersed campsite with two great benches.
Another free campsite.
During parts of the drive the road and rocks were a nice red hue.
Still winding up.
Nearing the top.
Almost past treeline.
Gold Dust Trail.
Summit!
Narrow-gauge boxcar built in 1910.
Looking towards Breckenridge.
Section House.
Ken's Cabin can also be rent during the winter.
Down the other side.
Big pothole.
Dispersed campsite with a view of Tenmile Range.
Rocky portion of road.
Looking back up to the top. Sign warning dirt bikes, ATVs and snowmobiles must stay on designated roads.
Red rocks along the pass.
Built in 1910, this Baker Tank replaced a previous, smaller one.
Another free place to camp.
Goose Pasture Tarn Lake.
Aerial of Breckenridge.
Final stretch on the pass.
Area map.
Train marks the start of the journey in Breckenridge.
Boreas Pass Historic Auto Tour.
Junction of County Road 33 (Boreas) and 50.
Looking back down a County Road 33 to Como.
Steep and narrow part of the road.
#6 is pull off for Rocky Point.
Rocky Point holds a short section of original railroad track.
It also has a view!
Primitive campsite on side of the road.
Most of the road is hard-packed dirt.
Motorcycler.
Dispersed campsite below the road.
Red road.
Storm rolling in.
Blue sky in the distance.
Climbing to the top of treeline.
Continental Divide.
In its peak Boreas had a railroad community of 150.
You can rent out these cabins in the winter for the night.
Interpretive sign.
Boreas Section House.
Solar powered.
John.
Wood stove pipe.
Ken's Cabin.
Opposite side of the summit.
Original boxcar.
The Breck side is part of the White River National Forest.
Free campsite looking at the Tenmile Range.
Looking back to the top from the Breck side.
Cemetery on the hill.
Dirt bike, ATV, snowmobile and 4x4 sign.
Dispersed camping in the White River National Forest.
Along the pass.
Red rocks beside route.
Baker Tank.
Looking towards Breck.
Narrow road.
Breck's Goose Pasture Tarn Lake.
Big cliffs.
Trail parking at the start in Breckenridge.
Trains mark the start of the route in Breckenridge.

Details

Address: Boreas Pass Road/County Road 10, Como–Breckenridge, CO

Season: June to October

Type: 2WD weather permitting

Length: 22 miles

Website: fs.usda.gov/…

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