Boreas Pass, Rail mountain pass in Colorado, US
Boreas Pass is a mountain pass in Colorado that connects Park County to Summit County across the continental divide and reaches elevation near 11,500 feet. The route follows a historic path now accessible by car via Forest Service Road 33 during the warmer months.
The pass started as a prospector trail in the 1860s and became a stagecoach route by 1866 before a narrow-gauge railroad was built there in 1882. This rail connection drove mining and trade expansion in the mountain region.
The name refers to Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, chosen in 1882 for the pass's notoriously harsh winter conditions and strong gusts. Local people and visitors value this mountain route as a landmark and gather here for outdoor recreation.
The pass is most accessible during warmer months when the Forest Service Road is open to vehicles, but winter requires snowshoes or skis for travel. Weather conditions change significantly with the season, so visitors should prepare accordingly.
A water diversion channel built in 1910 carries water from Indian Creek to North Tarryall Creek, providing water to a distant community year-round. This engineering feat shows how mountain passes serve purposes beyond human travel and recreation.
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