Stony Pass

Trail Overview

Stony Pass will take you from Silverton to Highway 149. The Jeep trail is relatively easy, but it is 38 miles long and the section from Kite Lake to the Rio Grande Reservoir (10 miles) could be more exciting. From there, Highway 149 is well-graded. The more interesting place to spend your time is west of Kite Lake. Along the descent on the east side of Stony Pass, you can see small streams along the trail. These are streams starting at the Continental Divide and they are the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. As you start up the west side, watch for what is left of the Buffalo Boy aerial tramway with a few tram buckets still attached. The Buffalo Boy trail will take you to the upper end of the tramway. The wildflowers are fantastic on the west side of the pass, if you are there at the right time of the year, which is a bit later in the season than most of the San Juans. Sheep will be grazing all the high country at certain times through the summer. Stony Pass is 12,592' in elevation.

Photos of Stony Pass

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Difficulty

This is an uneven, rutted dirt trail with loose rocks, sand, erosion, and washes. Potential water crossings are up to a foot deep, and there are mud holes and obstacles up to 18 inches, including ledges and short, steep grades. Roads are typically one vehicle wide with places to pass.

Technical Rating