Moffat Tunnel East Portal Historic Site

The east portal of the Moffat Tunnel sits in a dramatic alpine bowl where the railroad disappears into the Continental Divide through a 6.2-mile bore. Completed in 1928, this engineering marvel shortened the rail route to the Western Slope by 175 miles and eliminated the treacherous crossing of Rollins Pass. Today, freight trains still rumble through multiple times daily, emerging from the mountainside like something out of a movie. A small interpretive area explains the tunnel’s construction and the vision of Denver businessman David Moffat.

The site is accessible via East Portal Road, which branches off from the Rollins Pass route. The road is rough and steep in places but manageable for most vehicles when dry. Snow typically blocks access from November through May. No facilities beyond a small parking area and interpretive signs. The setting is spectacular — high alpine terrain with views across Middle Park to the Gore Range. Train schedules are unpredictable, but patience usually rewards visitors with the sight and sound of a mile-long freight emerging from the mountain.

Historic railroad tunnel through the Continental Divide