Jones Pass
Jones Pass (Forest Service Rd. 202) is an unpaved road in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The road crosses over the Continental Divide and is located just to the southwest of Berthoud Pass.
You’ll find the turn-off for the eastern side of Jones Pass near Berthoud Falls on Highway 40. The road surface is paved as it approaches the Henderson Mine after the turn-off. You’ll see the Jones Pass Trailhead for hikers on the right side after you pass the mine, and the Jones Pass dirt road begins just after that.
Just like many other parts of the divide, the geology of this section above and below the earth’s surface has been greatly altered by 100+ years of mining and irrigation operations.
Seasonal Info
This road is not maintained and will be closed during the winter months.
Jones Pass Stats
- Max Road Elevation: 12,454'
- Surface: Dirt
- Mtn Range: Front Range
Jones Pass rises approx. 2,000 vertical feet on each side. After descending down the western side, the road continues on to the west passed St. Louis Peak for several miles before trailing off.
Drag your mouse around the image below to change the view and see what it looks like from near the top of Jones Pass in late spring.
Irrigation Under Jones Pass
The Gumlick Tunnel runs below Jones Pass from west to east. This 7-foot wide irrigation tunnel has no pumps. It flows by gravity as it brings water from the Williams Fork diversion system to the point where it joins together with the Vasquez Tunnel on the eastern side of the pass. The tunnel was originally built in 1940.1 The tunnel flowed into Clear Creek until the Vasquez Tunnel was completed.
This water crosses the Continental Divide 3 times before making its way down through the foothills.
The Vasquez tunnel flows northward, bringing water back through the Continental Divide to the western side. After that, the tunnel meets with the Moffat collection system and the Moffat Tunnel. The Moffat Tunnel brings the water back through the divide one last time to the eastern side, and then down to cities below the Rocky Mountain foothills.
Jones Pass History
1866 – John S. Jones, President of the Colorado and California Wagon Road Company, convened a group of citizens for the purpose of taking measures to complete a wagon road through the mountains to Middle Park. Jones presented a report which stated that there was a better route than the Berthoud or Vasquez routes. A resolution was passed to publish the report that he had furnished, and $3,000 of capital stock was sold right away out of the $9,000 which needed to be sold.
Local newspapers referred to the wagon road as Jones’ Pass at the time (including the apostrophe), as it had been named after J.S. Jones.2
January 14, 1867 – House Bill No. 93, “an Act to incorporate the Jones’ Pass and White River Wagon Road Company” was passed.3
At least one of these companies was successful in building the first wagon road here, and by May of 1867, the road over the pass had been completed.4
An article in the Georgetown Courier from 1900 reads:
The four fishermen who gave an account of their trip to Williams’ Fork in last week’s Courier, made the assertion that the wagon road over Jones’ Pass was made by the Mormons on their way to Salt Lake. We would like to have them offer some proof in evidence of their statement, and will start the discussion by asserting that the road was built in 1867 by John S. Jones, after whom the pass was named. Jones located a ranch on the Grand river, near the mouth of the Blue, and there being no way to get a wagon to that region, built a road over the pass. The only traveled route to Middle Park previous to the building of this road was a trail over Berthoud Pass, which was used by Indians, hunters and prospectors.5
The Henderson Mine
This mine sits in the area on the eastern side of Jones Pass where the Gumlick and Vasquez Tunnels meet. This is the largest molybdenum mine in the country. It contains a 10-mile long conveyor that goes under the Continental Divide, and that conveyor is also the longest in the country.6
Here is a profile view of the mine as it goes under Jones Pass:
Directions from Denver
Jones Pass is about 1 hour away from Denver. Just take I-70 Westbound and get off at Exit 232. Take HWY 40 west from there. You will see signs for Jones Pass, the Big Bend Picnic Campground, and the Henderson Mine as you approach the first major switchback on Berthoud Pass. This is where you will jump off of HWY 40, and you’ll be at the Jones Pass dirt road soon.
- I-70 Westbound
- Exit 232
- US HWY 40 West to Henderson Mine/Jones Pass
Did You Know?
There is a snowcat skiing operation that offers guided tours on Jones Pass. Based out of Empire, CO, Powder Addiction/Jones Pass Guides is a local snowcat operation that you’ll find using the Jones Pass area during the winter. You can visit their website here.
1. Denver Water Resources: Features of the Denver Water System. 1994. Retrieved 10-3-23. View.
2. The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 6, Number 266, June 29, 1866, p. 3. Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Colorado State Library.
3. The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 7, Number 124, January 14, 1867, p. 2. Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Colorado State Library.
4. The Colorado Transcript, May 29, 1867, p. 2. Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Colorado State Library.
5. Georgetown Courier, Volume XXIV, Number 15, August 4, 1900, p. 3. Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Colorado State Library.
6. Center for Land Use Interpretation. Retrieved 10.3.23. View.
Images Credits: Center for Land Use Interpretation | More info