- Created: June 24, 2023 8:41 pm
- Updated: November 8, 2023 11:16 pm
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 28 miles
- Time 42 min
- Speed 40 mph
- Min altitude 8599 ft
- Peak 11309 ft
- Climb 2920 ft
- Descent 2454 ft
Berthoud Pass is a high mountain pass with big sweepers and two lanes of directional travel (great for safe passing) uphill which starts in Empire, CO and ends at Winter Park, CO. The start point is 42 miles or about 1 hour west of Denver, CO off of Interstate 70.
The key thing to note as of this writing is that the Empire side of the pass (pavement) has a much better surface than the Winter Park side of the pass (which is riddled with potholes and other breaks in the pavement). Additionally it is significantly more fun to ride up to the pass because of how the lanes are set up, two (for the most part) in the uphill direction specifically for passing which lessens the chance of getting stuck behind multiple 5th Wheels being towed by F150's. Pavement problems aside both sides of the pass are great fun with great views and the only issue being you get to the top far too quickly.
1. Berthoud Pass
Berthoud Pass; elevation 11,307 ft (3,446 m)) is a high mountain pass in central Colorado, in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of the western United States.
The pass is located west of Denver, and provides a high route between upper Clear Creek Canyon to the upper valley of the Fraser River in Middle Park to the north. It traverses the continental divide at the Front Range, on the border between Clear Creek County and Grand County.
The route of U.S. Highway 40 currently traverses the pass north of its junction with Interstate 70 in Clear Creek Canyon. It provides primary road access to Winter Park and a secondary route to Steamboat Springs from Denver and the Colorado Front Range. However, the pass is one of the most notoriously difficult passes in Colorado for motorists, based on its height as well as the steep grades on both sides (6.3%) and the large number of switchbacks on the southern side of the pass. At least 55 avalanche paths have been mapped on Berthoud Pass, some of them intersecting U.S. Highway 40 and some of those intersecting the roadway at multiple points on the pass.
Source: Wikipedia.com
Berthoud Pass is a high mountain pass with big sweepers and two lanes of directional travel (great for safe passing) uphill which starts in Empire, CO and ends at Winter Park, CO. The start point is 42 miles or about 1 hour west of Denver, CO off of Interstate 70.
The key thing to note as of this writing is that the Empire side of the pass (pavement) has a much better surface than the Winter Park side of the pass (which is riddled with potholes and other breaks in the pavement). Additionally it is significantly more fun to ride up to the pass because of how the lanes are set up, two (for the most part) in the uphill direction specifically for passing which lessens the chance of getting stuck behind multiple 5th Wheels being towed by F150’s. Pavement problems aside both sides of the pass are great fun with great views and the only issue being you get to the top far too quickly.
