Highest pass road in Colorado open to motorized travel. Views from the 13,185 ft. summit are impressive on a clear day. Very interesting mine structures on the east side. Connects to difficult Birdseye Gulch, Trail #53. Spend some time in Leadville; it’s a great historic town.
(719) 486-0749Pike and San Isabel N.F., Leadville R.D.
Check the WeatherNo updates yet.
Provide an Update08/30/2025
Submitted by anonymous
Thursday August 14. Using stock TJ and XJ (both with decent tires and skid plates) we started from the eastern side worked our way up to to the North London Mill. Trail was moderate and fairly dry. Looking at the shelf road up the pass after the mill we got out and explored on foot as the trail had a lot of very loose shale. Made the decision not to continue due to loose shale and trail slope to the edge. Returned to Fairplay and spent the afternoon in the really great South Park City Museum.
08/12/2025
Submitted by Mike
Tried the pass from the Fairplay side yesterday and got to the North London Mine before turning around. We had a stock Cherokee and Wrangler (with skid plates and tires) and looking up the shelf road we agreed that to our eyes the trail was too difficult. There had been some rock slides and washouts but for us to maneuver around the larger rocks near the center of the shelf road coupled with the large amount of loose rocks would be too difficult. Rating of moderate for the pass might be fine for side by sides but for SUV’s it might now be difficult.
08/14/2020
Submitted by Andy
This was my first trip over this pass. I drove my 2004 Jeep Rubicon and traveled from Alma to Leadville. The ass was open all the way and there are no significant obstacles. Still, it is a challenging drive. The Alma side is wall to wall rocks. The dirt has washed out along most of the road so the rocks are loose. It was a slow low range wheeling all the way to the top. The decent is classic Colorado. A narrow ledge road with steep switchbacks. A couple of the switchbacks have small steps on the approach from above. We saw many wildflowers and small animals. It was fun and intense for 3 hours.
7/14/2020
Submitted by James
Mosquito pass headed to Fairplay was blocked with snow.
8/6/2019
Submitted by Jason
Pass is open all the way, but there is still a snowfield just below the summit on the Alma side. It’s deep but passable for most. Watched an unlifted Jeep get stuck and had to be towed out. Many parts of the pass are heavily rutted with large rocks, especially on the Leadville switchbacks making travel very tricky. In the current condition, I would NOT rate this as moderate.
August w7, 2024. Using ATVs, we trailered up county road # 10, Until too rough for trailer. Mosquito Pass road...See More
