Red Mountain Pass
Distance
9.2 mi
Technical Rating
Moderate
Best Time
Fall, Summer
Trail Type
High-Clearance 4x4 Trail
Accessible By
Trail Overview
Red Mountain Pass is an easy Jeep trail that features old mining structures and great alpine scenery. You'll connect with Highway 550 near the middle of the trail, so it can be divided into two sections. The northern section is visible from the Red Mountain Mining History Viewpoint on Highway 550. There are numerous ruins for exploration. One of the most visited is the Yankee Girl headframe shown to the right. It is unusual in that it has a 1,200' vertical shaft under the headframe. There are numerous other structures in various stages of decomposition. The Longfellow Mine is located close to where the northern section intersects with US 550. Old ore cars are visible below the structures along US 550. The southern portion of the trail is much different than the northern. It is mostly above the timberline and offers great views of the surrounding area. There are only a few mines in the area.