![](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/hi-mtn-rd-2-e1677890646642.jpg)
This Page is of mostly about unpaved High Mountain Passes in the Arkansas, South Platte and Northern Rio Grande Watersheds Negotiable by an Adventure or Dual Sport motorcycle or a Plated Dirt Bike.
- This is Not a comprehensive list of every Mountain Pass in Colorado.
- This Page contains a List of Passes in the Heart of the Rockies.
![Points of Interest Points of Interest](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MAP-POI-HEART-OF-THE-ROCKIES-300x286.jpg)
![Trout Creek Pass Trout Creek Pass](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/trout-creek-pass-300x225.jpg)
Why is this area called the Heart of the Rockies ?
- The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad called Salida and the Arkansas River Valley the Heart of the Rockies from the 1920’s to the 1990’s.
- 4 Major American Rivers Headwaters are in the “Heart of the Rockies”
Scroll down for a List of 18 Specific Passes in the Heart of the Rocky Mountains.
Marshall Pass Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Map late 1800’s
(Click to view)
- All of the passes in the Heart of the Rockies could be negotiated by any competent rider on a properly set up ADV Motorcycle.
![Ride Prep RIDE PREP](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/RIDE-PREP-300x247.jpg)
![Center of Colorado Center of Colorado](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MAP-HLAR-300x279.jpg)
- The Passes in the Heart of the Rocky Mountains are in the headwaters and watersheds of 4 Major American Rivers:
- The Arkansas
- Rio Grande
- South Platte
- Colorado
![Divide in the Background](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CUDBY-XROADS-6-300x200.jpg)
- The quickest route from one town to the other in the Rocky Mountains is often up and over a mountain
- Which explains why Colorado has so many high mountain passes.
- It’s passes like these that offer incredible rewards for those daring enough to traverse them.
![14teeners 14teeners](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/heart-BV-300x132.jpg)
- Chaffee County has more ‘Fourteener’s than any other County in the United States.
- Mountain Passes—trade routes during the mining era—offer long rides with stunning scenery.
- History buffs can travel along the old Railroad lines and imagine them as they were in the early mining and Railroad days.
- The plentiful Passes of the region, open spaces and majestic views offer endless opportunities for exploring.
- With all the widespread OHV closures, knowing where to go and how to get the best out of your riding day is now more valuable than ever before.
- We have scouted out the best routes, and eliminated the U-turns and dead-ends on all of our routes.
![Mosquito Pass Summit 13,185 feet Mosquito Pass Summit 13,185 feet](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2013-rocky-mountain-dual-sport-adventure-gallery-two-22-300x225.jpg)
The Crossroads of the Rockies are in Chaffee County. Hwy’s 285 and Hwy 50.
![Hwy 24 & 285 Trout Creek Pass](https://advtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/hwy-24-285-signage-1-300x135.png)
- The Sawatch, Sangre de Cristo, Mosquito and Northern San Juan Mountain Ranges make up the Heart of the Rockies.
- Their watersheds and passes are listed below:
Sawatch Range Passes / Continental Divide.
(Arkansas & Colorado River)
- Hagerman.
- Independence.
- Cottonwood.
- Tincup.
- Hancock.
- Cumberland.
- Black Sage.
- Old Monarch.
- Monarch
Sangre de Cristo Range Passes.
(Arkansas & Rio Grande River Divide)
- Marshall.
- Poncha.
- Hayden.
- Medano.
Mosquito Range Passes.
(Arkansas & South Platte River Divide)
- Mosquito Pass.
- Weston.
- Trout Creek.
- Breakneck
Northern San Juan Range Passes.
(Rio Grande River Headwaters)
OPEN A LINK for INFO on SPECIFIC PASSES