Coal Bank Pass
Winding through the San Juan National Forest, Coal Bank Pass is named after its contribution to mining. Coal Bank Pass tops out at 10,640 feet between Durango and Silverton. It is well known for its close proximity to the trailhead for Engineer Mountain, which is a popular day hike and reaches almost 13,000 feet.
Molas Pass
The highest point between Durango and Silverton is Molas Pass, topping out at 10,970 feet. This stunning stretch of highway has views of rolling high country meadows backed by jagged mountains. Molas Pass is also home to Molas and Little Molas lakes which are popular camping and daytime recreation spots in the summer. In the winter, Molas Pass is popular for snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and a home base for backcountry skiing and snowboarding.
Molas Pass is also known for its trailheads into the high country for hiking and mountain biking and is a common spot for backpackers to catch a ride into Silverton to stock up on groceries while hiking the Colorado Trail.
