The Cottonwood Pass

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49.4 km

Length

+1,272 m

Ascent

−859 m

Descent

3,695 m

Highest point

Hairpins

9.1%

Max gradient

1h 06min

Drive time (approx.)

Weather on the road

At the highest point · 3,695 m

2 °C sleet

wind 4 m/s · clouds 98%

At the start

11 °C rain

wind 4 m/s · clouds 97%

	Min	Max	Precipitation	Wind
Friday 23 Oct	0 °C	6 °C	5.5 mm	6 m/s	partlycloudy
Saturday 24 Oct	-4 °C	2 °C	3.8 mm	5 m/s	snowshowers
Sunday 25 Oct	-4 °C	2 °C	4.4 mm	4 m/s	cloudy

Weather data by MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 10/23/26, 12:45 AM

Terrain and when to go

Landscape: High mountain road
Surface: paved 37%, asphalt 63%

Roads nearby

Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway

134.3 km
Length: +1,773 m
Ascent

Independence Pass

59.1 km
Length: +1,331 m
Ascent

The Monarch Pass

103.2 km
Length: +1,528 m
Ascent

49.4 km · 12 hairpins · 3,695 m

Elevation profile

What does The Cottonwood Pass look like?

Jones Mountain from Cottonwood Pass summit · Roy Luck · CC BY 2.0

Cottonwood Pass Trail panorama · Roy Luck · CC BY 2.0

Colorado Collegiate Peaks (5976304707) · David Herrera from Albuquerque, NM, Bernalillo · CC BY 2.0

Kelley-McDonald House · Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0

Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown; each opens its source page.

Start

Buena Vista

38.83791, -106.14576

Finish

Gunnison County

38.84092, -106.55742

Along the road

Parking

Avalanche Trailhead 13.6 km · 2,849 m

Avalanche Trailhead 14.2 km · 2,871 m

Denny Creek Trailhead 18.6 km · 3,017 m

Ptarmigan Lake 22.7 km · 3,258 m

Lost Lake Trailhead Parking 27.1 km · 3,515 m

Timberline Trailhead 37.8 km · 3,264 m

Large Vehicle Parking 44.2 km · 3,043 m

17 unnamed places along the road, from 1.0 km to 44.2 km.

Toilets

4 unnamed places along the road, from 3.9 km to 31.4 km.

Viewpoints

1 unnamed place along the road, from 30.1 km to 30.1 km.