Trail Overview
This scenic and historic 52-mile point-to-point route is perfect for overland enthusiasts and families looking for a mild yet breathtaking drive through the Gunnison National Forest and over a historic mountain pass. Starting off Highway 50, the well-graded dirt road climbs steadily to the summit of Old Monarch Pass at 11,379 feet, offering sweeping alpine views that easily surpass those of the modern highway. After taking in the summit vistas, the road winds down the western slope into Waunita Park, a wide-open valley surrounded by dense national forest that is primarily used for seasonal cattle grazing.
Heading north from the park, the trail routes toward Pitkin, Colorado's first mining camp west of the Continental Divide, which still retains its charming late-19th-century character. While most of the pass is smooth, the northern segment becomes extremely rocky and bumpy, making a drop in tire pressure highly recommended for a more comfortable ride. High-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, SUVs, and SxSs can easily navigate this route, which features a maximum technical rating of 3 and climbs more than 4,600 feet in cumulative elevation.
History
Originally named Quartzville, Pitkin was founded in 1879 and became Colorado's first mining camp west of the Continental Divide. The area boomed with exceptionally rich gold, silver, copper, and lead mines, hosting over 1,000 residents and dozens of businesses by 1882. However, the mineral veins proved shallow, and by 1883, the population halved. Fires, epidemics, and the Silver Panic of 1893 further accelerated its decline, leaving it as a quiet historic mountain community today.
