Gates Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gates Pass |
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Saguaro at Gates Pass
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| Elevation | 3,169 ft (966 m) |
| Traversed by | Gates Pass Road |
| Location |  Arizona United States |
| Range | Tucson Mountains |
| Coordinates | 32°13′20″N 111°06′03″W / 32.2222985°N 111.10093°W |
| Topo map | USGS Cat Mountain |
 Location in Arizona
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Gates Pass is a famous mountain pass located in the Tucson Mountains in Arizona. It's a very scenic road just west of Tucson, Arizona. This road is part of a special route called a National Scenic Byway.
People love to drive through Gates Pass to see amazing desert views. It's also a popular spot to watch beautiful sunsets. The pass is about 3,172 feet high.
Exploring Gates Pass Road
The road leading to Gates Pass is known by different names. From the east, it's West Anklam Road. This road joins with West Speedway Boulevard in Tucson. After you pass through the mountains, the road becomes Saguaro Road. It continues until it reaches Kinney Road, which is near Old Tucson Studios.
Along the road, you'll find many spots to stop and enjoy the view. These are called scenic overlooks. They offer fantastic chances to see the desert landscape. Many locals and tourists visit these spots, especially in the evening. They come to watch the sun go down over the mountains.
The History of Gates Pass
The road through Gates Pass was first started in 1883. A local pioneer named Thomas Gates began building it. He was looking for a faster way to get through the Tucson Mountains. Thomas Gates owned a saloon and a ranch in the area. He bought the land specifically to create this new road.
Today, Gates Pass Road is quite busy. About 3,100 cars travel through the pass every single day.
Making Gates Pass Safer
For a while, Gates Pass was known as a challenging road to drive. This was because of a steep slope in the middle of the route. Between 1996 and 2001, there were many vehicle incidents reported.
To make the road better and safer, a big project was started in 2006. The road was made wider, and it was closed for a short time during the work. This project was very successful. It was even named the third best road project in the entire country for 2006 by Roads and Bridges Magazine.
