La Poudre Pass, Mountain pass at Continental Divide in Rocky Mountains, Colorado.
La Poudre Pass is a mountain crossing at the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The pass sits at about 3,100 meters elevation and contains a small lake that marks the headwaters of the Colorado River.
French fur trappers working in the region named the nearby Cache La Poudre River after their practice of storing gunpowder along its banks. These early explorations shaped the area's history and left their mark on local place names.
The ranger station at La Poudre Pass serves as an entry point to Rocky Mountain National Park, marking the boundary between Grand and Larimer counties.
Long Draw Road leads to the trailhead parking area and is typically open from late May through mid-October. The lot fills early on nice days, so arriving early helps secure a spot.
The pass features a broad, flat, swampy region where the Colorado River begins as a small stream emerging from an alpine meadow. This wet meadow is where one of North America's major rivers has its quiet start.
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