Imogene Pass

At 13,114 feet, Imogene Pass sits just 41 feet lower than Engineer Pass, making it Colorado’s second-highest drivable crossing and one hell of a lung-buster for both drivers and machines. This 17-mile ghost road connects the Victorian mining towns of Ouray and Telluride across some of the most unforgiving terrain in the San Juan Mountains, following the same route that ore wagons and desperate miners carved out in the 1870s. The pass earned its name from the Imogene Mine, where fortunes were made and lost in equal measure during Colorado’s mining boom.

The eastern approach from Ouray starts deceptively easy through Camp Bird Road before the real work begins at the Yankee Boy Basin turnoff. From there, it’s 3,800 feet of elevation gain over loose rock, off-camber shelves, and exposure that’ll have your passenger white-knuckling the door handle. The western descent into Telluride is equally technical, with steep grades and loose scree that demand absolute attention to line choice. A stock 4WD with high clearance and skid plates can handle this trail, but barely—and you’ll earn every mile. Experienced drivers in well-built rigs will find it challenging but manageable, while novices should consider cutting their teeth elsewhere first.

Summer’s short window from July through September offers the only reliable crossing opportunity, and even then, afternoon thunderstorms can turn the high-altitude sections deadly. The pass frequently holds snow into late June and can see flakes again by early October. Water crossings are minimal but present, and fuel intervals require planning—Ouray to Telluride is your only resupply option unless you’re carrying extra. Cell service disappears completely once you commit to the climb, making this a trail where mechanical preparation and recovery gear aren’t suggestions but requirements.

What you get for the punishment is some of the most spectacular high-alpine scenery in Colorado, ghost town remnants that tell the story of American ambition, and the satisfaction of crossing one of the continent’s highest vehicular passes under your own power. The views from the summit stretch across the San Juan Range in every direction, and the descent into Telluride’s box canyon is worth the price of admission alone. This isn’t a trail for Instagram bragging rights—it’s a genuine test of both driver skill and vehicle capability that rewards the prepared and humbles the overconfident.