Raton Pass

Raton Pass is a rail mountain pass at 7,834 feet (2,387 meters) through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, linking Trinidad in Colorado with Raton in New Mexico. Both Interstate 25 and the railroad tracks follow the corridor through the forested slopes and open plateaus of the mountain range.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway laid tracks over the pass in 1878 after a fierce competition with the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad for control of the route. The pass had served travelers on the Santa Fe Trail for centuries before as a natural gateway westward.

The Spanish name refers to the mice early travelers noticed here, while today the route connects daily life in both states. Truck drivers and commuters know the crossing as a natural boundary between the different landscapes of Colorado and New Mexico.

Interstate 25 and the railroad cross the pass, with winter conditions sometimes requiring careful preparation. Travelers should check weather reports, as snow and wind can occasionally cause delays or temporary closures.

The railroad grade reaches 3.5 percent in New Mexico, making it one of the steepest main line routes in the western United States. Train engineers sometimes add extra locomotives to pull heavy freight over the climb.

Location: Las Animas County

Location: Colfax County

Elevation above the sea: 2,377 m

GPS coordinates: 36.99110,-104.48700

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26