List of passes of the Rocky Mountains facts for kids
The Rocky Mountains of North America are home to more than a thousand amazing mountain passes. A mountain pass is like a low spot or a "saddle" between two mountains or ridges. It's the easiest way to cross over a mountain range. For hundreds of years, people have used these passes to travel, explore, and build roads and railways. These natural pathways have played a big part in how people moved across the vast Rocky Mountains.
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What is a Mountain Pass?
A mountain pass is a gap or a low point in a mountain range. Think of it as a natural doorway through tall mountains. They are formed by things like glaciers, rivers, or even faults in the Earth's crust. Because they are the lowest and often safest ways to cross mountains, passes are super important for travel and trade.
Famous Rocky Mountain Passes
The Rocky Mountains have many famous passes, each with its own story. Some are high up and only accessible by foot, while others have busy roads or even train tracks running through them. Here are a few selected passes:
| Pass | Region | Elevation | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbot Pass |  Alberta British Columbia |
2922 m 9,587 ft |
Foot trail between Banff National Park and Yoho National Park |
| Argentine Pass |  Colorado |
4025 m 13,205 ft |
Primitive road in Arapaho National Forest (Highest road over the Continental Divide in North America) |
| Athabasca Pass | Alberta British Columbia |
1753 m 5,751 ft |
Foot trail in Jasper National Park |
| Berthoud Pass | Colorado |
3452 m 11,325 ft |
 in Arapaho National Forest |
| Bozeman Pass |  Montana |
1738 m 5,702 ft |
   |
| Bridger Pass |  Wyoming |
2313 m 7,588 ft |
Important historical route for early explorers and settlers, including the Cherokee Trail and Overland Trail. |
| Cottonwood Pass | Colorado |
3694 m 12,119 ft |
Chaffee County Road 306 in San Isabel National Forest to Gunnison County Road 209 in Gunnison National Forest (Highest paved road over the Continental Divide in North America) |
| Crowsnest Pass | Alberta British Columbia |
1358 m 4,455 ft |
(Canadian Pacific Railway 1898) |
| Electric Pass | Colorado |
4113 m 13,494 ft |
Foot trail in White River National Forest (Highest named pass in the Rocky Mountains |
| Glorieta Pass |  New Mexico |
2304 m 7,559 ft |
   in Santa Fe National Forest (Part of the historic Santa Fe Trail and site of a Civil War battle) |
| Highwood Pass | Alberta |
2206 m 7,238 ft |
 in Kananaskis Country (Highest paved road in Canada) |
| Hoosier Pass | Colorado |
3515 m 11,532 ft |
  between Arapaho National Forest and Pike National Forest (Explored by John C. Fremont in 1844) |
| Independence Pass | Colorado |
3689 m 12,103 ft |
 between San Isabel National Forest and White River National Forest |
| Kicking Horse Pass | Alberta British Columbia |
1627 m 5,338 ft |
 between Banff National Park and Yoho National Park |
| Lemhi Pass |  Idaho Montana |
2246 m 7,369 ft |
Gravel road between Beaverhead National Forest and Salmon National Forest (Crossed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805) |
| Logan Pass | Montana |
2028 m 6,653 ft |
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park |
| Loveland Pass | Colorado |
3656 m 11,995 ft |
 in Arapaho National Forest |
| Marias Pass | Montana |
1596 m 5,236 ft |
 between Flathead National Forest and Lewis and Clark National Forest (Used by the Great Northern Railway since 1891) |
| Monarch Pass | Colorado |
3446 m 11,306 ft |
 between Gunnison National Forest and San Isabel National Forest |
| Raton Pass | New Mexico |
2377 m 7,798 ft |
 (Santa Fe Trail 1821, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 1878) |
| South Pass | Wyoming |
2304 m 7,559 ft |
 (A key route for the Oregon Trail 1812, Mormon Trail 1847, California Trail 1848, and Pony Express 1860-1861) |
| Teton Pass | Wyoming |
2571 m 8,435 ft |
 |
| Yellowhead Pass | Alberta British Columbia |
1131 m 3,711 ft |
between Jasper National Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park |
How People Use Passes
Mountain passes have been used for centuries by different groups of people for various reasons.
Historical Passes
Long ago, Native Americans used these passes to travel between different areas for hunting, trade, and ceremonies. Later, European explorers and fur traders followed these same paths. Famous expeditions, like the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 1800s, relied on passes like Lemhi Pass to cross the vast mountains.
As more people moved west, passes became vital for pioneer trails. The Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Mormon Trail all used South Pass in Wyoming, making it one of the most important historical gateways in the American West. These trails allowed thousands of settlers to reach new lands.
Modern Transportation
Today, many mountain passes are still important for transportation. Some have modern highways, like Interstate 70 through Vail Pass in Colorado, which allows cars and trucks to cross the mountains quickly. Others, like Kicking Horse Pass and Marias Pass, have busy railway lines that carry goods and passengers across the continent.
Even with modern technology, building roads and railways through mountain passes is a huge challenge. Engineers have to deal with steep slopes, heavy snow, and the risk of avalanches. But thanks to these passes, travel through the Rocky Mountains is much easier and safer than it used to be!
See also
- List of mountain passes
- Rocky Mountains
- Canadian Rockies
- Central Rocky Mountains
- Western Rocky Mountains
- Southern Rocky Mountains
- Mountain pass
- List of mountain passes in Colorado
- List of mountain passes in Montana
- List of mountain passes in Wyoming
- List of railroad crossings of the Continental Divide of North America
- List of Rocky Mountain passes on the Continental Divide of the Americas
