McClure Pass - North

Near Marble, Pitkin County, Colorado

September 23, 2010

After leaving Maroon Lake Recreational Area, we drove north out of Aspen and Snow Mass for about 30 miles and then took Highway 133 at Carbondale and drove south to McClure Pass. This was a long circular trail around the high mountains of Maroon Bells area. It was a very nice drive all the way.

McClure Pass (2,671 m./8,755 ft.) is located along the boundary between Pitkin and Gunnison counties, in a gap at the western side of the Elk Mountains south of Redstone. It separates the headwaters of the Crystal River (a tributary of the Roaring Fork River to the north) with the headwaters of the North Fork Gunnison River (south). The pass is traversed by State Highway 133 between Carbondale and Paonia, providing the direct route between the Roaring Fork Valley and the North Fork Valley. The pass is not especially high in Colorado standard and is generally open year round, closed only during heavy snowstorms.



Highway 133 snakes through the Roaring Fork Valley along the Crystal River.
In the background are northern side of Chair Mountain (12, 721') and farther back right, Ragged Peak (notched at the top, 12, 641').
This is the last house we see on the north side of the McClure Pass.
From here on, we are climbing up the steep hill toward the McClure Pass.



The eastern wall of Roaring Fork Valley. Maroon colored rock walls, same as at the Maroon Lake.



Chair Mountain and Ragged Peak to the right.



Chair Mountain, northern face. It does look like a chair with arm and back rests.



It seems that aspens on the lower slope have not changed the color yet.
Typical appearance of aspen forest with whitish trunks and light green leaves at their tops.



Looking down the Roaring Fork Valley. Ragged Mountain (not Ragged Peak, 12, 094') at left.



Chair Mountain and the south end of Roaring Fork Valley.



Rows of Aspen in light green color. They will turn yellow soon.



To south: Ragged Mountain (12, 094') in Raggeds Wilderness



Northern face of Chair Mountain (12, 721') as we climb up the pass.



Near the summit of McClure Pass, we met a group of painters.
Having left Maroon Bells-Snow Mass Wilderness, this part belongs to Raggeds Wilderness.



Looking southeast: from left; White House Mountain (small flat summit, 11,975'), Treasure Mountain (13,528, broad snow-covered on behind)



View to the southeast before the summit of McClure Pass



Snow-covered peaks to east (from left): Capital Peak (14,130'), Snow Mass Mountain (14, 092'), and Maroon Peaks (14, 156')



White House Mountain, Treasure Mountain (snow covered), Treasury Mountain (under clouds, right side of Treasure Mountain)



View to east: Elk Mountain (11,826') from the McClure summit. Mount Daly (12,610') at left far back.



View from the summit of McClure Pass to east



Blue sky and clean air... No place like Colorado.



Sun-lit yellow aspens



View to east. South Maroon Peak (14, 156') at the left back, Sheep Mountain (11,643') at middle left with light brownish gentle top. Straight beyond Sheep with snow is Belleview Mountain (13,233')



A close up of the far eastern mountains



Even further close up. Capital Peak (14,130') far away



Snow-covered Treasure Mountain, Treasury  and Purple Mountain behind right.
Marble Valley at upper middle, below right of Treasure Mountain.



To east: Capital Peak and Snow Mass Mountain



One last eastward look of the Maroon Bells-Snow Mass Wilderness behind us.
As we drive over the pass to south, we will be leaving Pikin County, and entering Raggeds Wilderness Area of White River and Gunnison National Forest in Gunnison County.
To be continued in the next webpage... McClure Pass South.