Dallas Divide in Colorado
The Complete Pass Guide (By Coloradans)
Everything You Need To Know About The Dallas Divide in Colorado
A Full Mountain Pass Deep-Dive, Crafted By Coloradans
Dallas Divide (CO-62) is a hidden gem Colorado mountain pass you pretty much never hear anyone talk about, but whose views will absolutely knock your socks off.
As Coloradans who’ve driven this scenic route countless times when we’re in the San Juans, we’ll break down all the must-know details about the Dallas Divide and the epic views and adventures located nearby.
This is a route we highlight as one of our favorites in our jam-packed Colorado road travel itinerary, and it’s one that we frankly don’t think you should opt out of if you want to see some of the most gorgeous mountain vistas in the entire state.
Plus, the Dallas Divide is the perfect jumping off point to some of the most epic mountain towns and hiking trails in all of southwest Colorado. You’re cheating yourself if you skip this one.
As is standard with our mountain pass guides, we’ll be sure to include plenty of photos from our adventures on the Dallas Divide over the years. Let’s get into the details.
Disclosure: We’ve included lodging and gear recommendations in this guide to the Dallas Divide in Colorado. If you choose to book or buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Shopping through these links helps support our small Colorado business and allows us to continue creating free content like this.
All recommendations in our Dallas Divide mountain pass guide are crafted with love and expertise, from platforms we use and trust for our own adventures, both in the Colorado San Juan Mountains and beyond.
Where In Colorado Is Dallas Divide?
Directions From Both Ridgway and Telluride
Dallas Divide is basically the mountain pass that connects the towns of Ridgway (on the northeast) with Placerville, Colorado (on the southwest).
It’s the most common route for adventurers looking to get to Telluride, particularly from the eastern part of the state.
The directions to the Dallas Divide from Ridgway, Colorado are super straightforward. You simply get on CO-62 and drive westbound (you quite literally have no other option, as CO-62 hits a “T” with Million Dollar Highway in Ridgway on the east side.
If you’re coming from Telluride, you’ll drive west out of town on CO-145 for about 16 miles and then you’ll hang a right on CO-62 (The Dallas Divide).
- GPS Coordinates (to our favorite scenic vista): 38.099551, -107.871193
- Nearest Towns To The Dallas Divide: Ridgway and Placerville, Colorado
- Dallas Divide Length: 23 miles
- Dallas Divide Elevation (summit): 8,970 ft
- Cell Service: Cell service on the Dallas Divide in Colorado can be spotty at times (it’s pretty carrier-dependent, but we’ve found Verizon is the most reliable). As a general rule, we always recommend bringing along a satellite communication device like this brand we use, especially if you have plans to hike, backpack, or ski in the backcountry near the Dallas Divide.
Is Dallas Divide Always Open?
When And Why Does It Close?
The Dallas Divide doesn’t have a seasonal closure date like many of the mountain passes in Colorado do. It’s a common route for backcountry skiers and winter adventurers, so it’s open year round.
However, Colorado often pulls a “Colorado” and throws wild snowstorms at these high elevation roads, which can shut down the route temporarily.
If you plan on exploring the Dallas Divide during the snowy months (which includes much of spring and fall, by the way), an AWD or 4WD vehicle with all-weather or snow tires with a mud/snow designation is always a good idea.
Driving a 2WD vehicle? Either the aforementioned tires or equipping your car with tire chains will be the move.
Note: The state of Colorado has a chain law it can implement at any time, so you want to make sure you have the proper gear for your vehicle when exploring the Dallas Divide.
Essential Details About The Dallas Divide
Including Must-See Adventure Stops
We’re breaking down everything you need to know about having the most scenic and bucket list-worthy adventure on the Dallas Divide in Colorado.
We’ll go over the best seasons to explore this route, epic hikes and backpacking excursions along the Dallas Divide, and where to stop for the dreamiest landscape photos of this gorgeous stretch of Colorado mountain road.
Outdoor Culture Isn't Always The Most Approachable
Outdoors culture can be a little snooty and exclusive sometimes, making it extremely intimidating for newer adventures to feel comfortable getting outside.
As people who work in the mountains, though, we don’t believe it should be this way. We’ve created a Substack email newsletter dedicated toward making outdoor recreation genuinely easy and fun, all while feeling prepared.
The Best Seasons To Drive The Dallas Divide in Colorado
The Dallas Divide is an absolutely iconic spot to view the Colorado fall colors. The route is home to swaths of aspen groves dotting the landscape, and they absolutely light up during peak fall colors (which is typically the very end of September and the beginning of October in this area).
That said, our personal favorite times to drive the Dallas Divide is during the summertime, as this is the time of year that gives you access to some of the coolest hikes in the entire state of Colorado (more on this later) while everything is still lush and green. The ideal time window we’re talking about is going to be mid-July through mid-August.
Trying To Perfectly Time Your Trip To CO?
The weather and seasons in Colorado are quite finicky, and you have to get your timing just right to see the best of the best.
Our guide to Colorado’s seasons shares everything you need to know to time your trip perfectly for outdoors adventures.
Where To Stop For The Best Photos Along The Dallas Divide (And What Time Of Day To Plan For)
There are plenty of gorgeous roadside pull-offs along the Dallas Divide, but our absolute favorite is located at these coordinates: 38.099551, -107.871193. There’s an entire parking lot where you can set up and watch the sunrise, which gives you plenty of angles to get the perfect shot.
Photo Pro Tip: The mountain views run parallel to the road to the south, making this a particularly incredible photo spot for alpenglow on the tips of the mountains both at sunrise and sunset.
Alpenglow is basically when the warm orange or maroon glow of the sun hits the tips of the mountains for a tiny window of time during golden hour. It’s a photographer favorite for epic photos.
Colorado Hiking Trails Worth Checking Out Along The Dallas Divide
SW Colorado’s hiking scene is truly unmatched, and the humble Dallas Divide is actually home to some of the most epic ones.
While this is not an exhaustive list, these are the top 3 worth considering, with varying levels of difficulty (listed from easiest to hardest).
- West Fork Dallas Creek Trail – This one’s a nice and easy trail with minimal mileage and elevation gain (2.5 miles RT, 380 ft elevation gain). It’s a great hike if you’re looking to see the Colorado fall colors while exploring the Dallas Divide.
- Blue Lakes Trail – We’re not saying this is the most gorgeous hike in all of Colorado, but we’re also not not saying that. Ok, just kidding. We are saying it. This is the most gorgeous hike in the entire state.
- Mt Sneffels via Blue Lakes Trail – This is hands-down one of the most pictuesque 14ers in all of Colorado, but be warned: this is for experienced mountaineers, as there is Class 3 scrambling involved. The trail to the summit shoots off from Blue Lakes (the trail mentioned above), so you’re getting two scenic hikes in one.
Hiking Pro Tip: When doing hikes that go above treeline (e.g., Sneffels or Blue Lakes), it’s typically safer to opt for a sunrise hike. Afternoon storms in the high altitude can be life-threatening. The higher up you are, the more dangerous.
Hiking Gear We Recommend Bringing When Adventuring On The Dallas Divide in Colorado
Being prepared when hiking in the Colorado backcountry is key. Whenever we’re exploring places like the trails along the Dallas Divide, there are a few pieces of gear we won’t go without.
We’ve written an entire guide on our go-to hiking safety gear, with all the details on what’s really non-negotiable when hitting the trails.
It’s worth mentioning that a lot of these hikes along the Dallas Divide are in the Colorado high alpine, where you’re pretty exposed to intense winds. For this reason, we love packing our lightweight puffer jackets. They double as an extra layer of insulation and wind protection.
Unique Colorado Lodging Options Near The Dallas Divide
Our Favorites Near Ridgway and Ouray
When planning around exploring the Dallas Divide, the two Colorado cities we recommend staying in are Ridgway and Ouray. Ridgway is quite literally the start of the Dallas Divide on the east side. Ouray is about a 15 minute drive south of Ridgway on the Million Dollar Highway.
You could also stay in Telluride, but it tends to be a good bit more expensive, so we find that Ridgway and Ouray get us more bang for our buck. Plus, Ouray is such a cool town (see the photo above), and the views are truly other-worldly.
- Studio in Ouray, CO (sleeps 2) – This studio gives you a prime location in the box canyon Ouray sits in, and the views from the deck are top notch.
- This Cozy Cabin in Ouray (sleeps 4) – The cabin vibes at this stay are seriously unmatched. The cabin was built in the 1870’s, so you’re staying in a little piece of high alpine history. Pretty dang cool, if you ask us.
- This Luxury Townhome in Ridgway (sleeps 6) – Ridgway, Colorado is the eastern start of the Dallas Divide, so this spot’s location is perfect. If you’re looking for all the amenities, like a washer, dryer, and full kitchen, this is the place to stay.
Want The Details On The Most Epic Spots In Colorado?
As Colorado locals, we’ve been all over the state and have seen so much of what the Rockies have to offer. That said, these are the mountain towns in CO you absolutely cannot miss.
The Sneffels Traverse - The Ultimate Colorado Hut Excursion Along The Dallas Divide
Backcountry huts are an epic way to experience the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado, and there are some truly incredible ones located a short drive off the Dallas Divide.
If you’re looking for a backcountry experience, without having to pack a tent with you, these huts are the perfect middle ground between something like a cabin vacation rental and a tent-only campground.
A lot of people will opt to book a few of these huts for a single trip and hike between them. There’s an option to basically hike from Last Dollar Pass all the way to Ouray, going from hut to hut, for a grand total of 29.7 miles.
This route is referred to as the Sneffels Traverse, and stops at five different huts: the Last Dollar Hut, the North Pole Hut, the Blue Lakes Hut, the Ridgway Hut, and the Burn Hut. We’ve created a helpful little graphic breaking down the hiking distance between them all, for reference (see the map above).
We’ve gotta admit, doing a hut trek on the trail system running parallel to the Dallas Divide is a total must-do if you have a week or so and want to breathe in some of the most epic views in the San Juans.
Considering Calling CO Home?
We’d be lying if we said living in CO wasn’t incredible, but it certainly has its downsides too. We break down everything we love (and everything we don’t) in our guide.
What Else Is There To Do Near The Dallas Divide in Colorado?
The Dallas Divide is super close to one of our favorite towns in all of Colorado: Ouray. It sits inside a stunning box canyon and has some of the most gorgeous mountain views in SW CO.
In addition to visiting Ouray, there are also some other epic scenic drives not too far from the Dallas Divide that we highly recommend adding to your list:
- Last Dollar Road – If you’re looking for an ultra-scenic off-roading route in the San Juans, Last Dollar Road is a must, especially if you’re near Telluride. We highly recommend doing the drive at sunrise for a truly breathtaking experience.
- Ophir Pass – Another stunning off-roading route, you can take this mountain pass from Telluride to Silverton (another favorite of ours).
- Lizard Head Pass – Quite possibly one of our favorite mountain passes in the entire state, this route starts outside of Telluride and meanders through some of the most jaw-dropping views in the state (pro tip: Ophir Pass can be accessed along this road).
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We’re Sheena and Ed: Colorado hikers, adventurers, and professional photographers.
When we’re not out exploring places like the Dallas Divide in Colorado, we’re writing about them to share with you guys. Because the outdoors shouldn’t be gatekept.
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