Guanella Pass, Mountain pass in Colorado, United States

Guanella Pass is a mountain pass through the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains at approximately 3,557 meters elevation, connecting the towns of Georgetown and Grant. The road crosses multiple different environments as it climbs over the ridge.

Guanella Pass was named in 1953 for Byron Guanella, who served as a road supervisor and commissioner in Clear Creek County for nearly 50 years. The route over the pass later became the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway, linking Interstate 70 to the north with U.S. Highway 285 to the south. A few miles south of the summit, the Geneva Basin Ski Area operated from 1963 to 1984.

The road over the pass is the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway, named for Byron Guanella, a Clear Creek County road supervisor and commissioner for nearly 50 years. The byway links Interstate 70 near Georgetown with U.S. Highway 285 near Grant. A visitor can follow the paved road from the Clear Creek valley up to the 11,669-foot summit and down into the Geneva Creek drainage.

The road is normally passable from early summer through early fall and closes during winter months due to heavy snowfall. Drivers should check conditions before traveling since weather can change quickly in this high-elevation area.

Several hiking trails along the route provide direct access to Mount Bierstadt, a popular peak for climbers. The region also serves as home to deer, elk, and numerous bird species that visitors often spot.