Webster Pass Road

Webster Pass sits at 12,096 feet, making it one of Colorado’s highest driveable passes through terrain that once echoed with silver mining dynamite. The road snakes past abandoned mine shafts and rusted machinery from the 1880s boom, offering raw mountain views across the Tenmile Range. At the summit, you’ll find the remains of several mining claims and a register box where overlanders have been signing in for decades.

This is a moderate high-clearance route that demands respect for sudden weather changes above treeline. Stock 4WD vehicles handle it fine in dry conditions, but afternoon thunderstorms can turn the rocky sections treacherous. Best tackled July through September when snow clears, though even summer mornings can start with frost. No permits required, and dispersed camping is allowed below treeline on both sides of the pass. The payoff is legitimate backcountry solitude and some of the most authentic mining history still accessible by vehicle in Colorado.