Mosca Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mosca Pass |
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Looking west from the top of the pass
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| Elevation | 9,714 ft (2,961 m) |
| Traversed by | trail |
| Location | Alamosa / Huerfano counties, Colorado, U.S. |
| Range | Sangre de Cristo Range |
| Coordinates | 37°43′58″N 105°27′16″W / 37.73278°N 105.45444°W |
| Topo map | USGS Mosca Pass |
Mosca Pass is a cool mountain pass in Colorado, USA. It's super high up, reaching about 9,714 feet (2,961 meters)! This pass is found in the Sangre de Cristo Range, which is a big mountain chain in southern Colorado. It sits right on the edge of the amazing Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
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Exploring Mosca Pass
Mosca Pass is a special place in the mountains. It's a natural path that goes between two tall peaks.
Where is Mosca Pass Located?
Mosca Pass is located in two counties in Colorado: Alamosa County and Huerfano County. It's like a natural border! The pass is about 40 miles west of a town called Walsenburg, Colorado.
It also marks the boundary between two important natural areas. To the west, you'll find the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. To the east, it borders the San Isabel National Forest.
What is the Terrain Like?
The area around Mosca Pass is a mix of different natural landscapes. You can find beautiful mountain meadows, which are open grassy areas. There are also woodlands filled with tall ponderosa pine trees. You might also see Douglas-fir forests, which are dense areas of evergreen trees.
How Can You Travel Through Mosca Pass?
Today, Mosca Pass is mostly used by hikers. The Mosca Pass Trail starts near the visitor center of the Great Sand Dunes National Park. This trail is only for walking or hiking; you cannot drive a car or other vehicles on it.
On the eastern side of the pass, there is a road called Forest Road 580. This road starts at the top of the pass and heads east. After it leaves the national forest, it becomes County Road 580. In the past, a state highway, Colorado State Highway 150, used to go through Mosca Pass.
How Did Mosca Pass Get Its Name?
Mosca Pass was named after a person named Luis de Moscoso Alvarado. He was an explorer from a long time ago, around 1542. His scouting groups might have traveled through this area, and that's how the pass got its name!
