Guide
Mosquito Pass by UTV.
The road east of Leadville tops out at 13,185 feet, higher than any pass most people will ever drive. Here is what it is, when it opens, and what a UTV day on it feels like.
The road
Mosquito Pass crosses the Mosquito Range between Leadville and Alma, in Park County. At 13,185 feet it is one of the highest passes in Colorado, and it is not a highway: the route is an old freight and stage road from the 1870s silver boom, rebuilt as a four-wheel-drive track.
UTVs and ATVs are allowed on the Leadville side. Above treeline the road narrows to a shelf of loose rock with no guardrails and long drops on the outside line. It is exactly as exposed as it looks in the videos, which is why people come here with a side-by-side and a guide rather than a rental car.
When it opens
Snow closes the top of the pass most of the year. It usually melts out in mid-summer and closes again with the first big fall storms, so the window is roughly July through September. Early in that window there can still be drifts at the summit; late in it the aspens on the lower road turn gold, which is when the photos on this site were taken.
There is no fixed opening date. The guides drive it and call it. If the summit is not safe that week, the tour still climbs as high as it sensibly can; guests have recorded around 12,700 feet on tour days.
What a UTV day here looks like
The three-hour guided UTV tour leaves the shop at 141 East 9th Street in a 4-seat Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo, either self-driven behind the guide or riding along in the guide's machine. The route climbs out of town through the historic mining district, past the headframes and ore chutes of the 1880s, into aspens and spruce, and up toward the tundra.
Whether a given day goes to the summit depends on conditions and the group. Ask when you book if the top of the pass is the point of your trip; some days it is the best thing you will do all year, and some days the wind at 13,000 feet decides otherwise.
What to bring
Layers. It can be 30 degrees cooler above treeline than in town, and afternoon storms are the rule in July and August. Sunglasses and sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, water, a camera. Helmets, fuel, the guide and on-trail support are included.
Related
Ready to ride?
Call (970) 930-7027 or send a booking request. Or let the planner match the tour to your group first.
Quick answers
How high is Mosquito Pass?
13,185 feet (4,019 m), between Leadville and Alma, Colorado.
Can you take a UTV over Mosquito Pass?
UTVs and ATVs are allowed on the Leadville side of the pass. The road above treeline is narrow, loose rock with no guardrails. Leadville Offroad Adventures runs guided UTV tours from Leadville that climb toward the pass when conditions allow.
When is Mosquito Pass open?
Only when it is snow-free, usually mid-summer to early fall, roughly July through September. There is no fixed date.
Do I need a permit or my own machine?
Not on a guided tour. The 4-seat Polaris RZR, helmet, fuel and guide are included; you drive your own machine or ride with the guide.