Rollins Pass, also called Corona Pass, is situated in the Colorado Rocky Mountains about five miles from popular Winter Park ski areas. This scenic trail atop the
Continental Divide was once the highest (11,680 feet) and most dangerous rail route in the United States. The pass was first traversed by wagon trains in 1862 and was used heavily for cattle drives in the late 19th century with herds sometimes numbering 12,000 cattle at once. In the early 20th century, Denver Banker David Moffat established the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway line over Rollins Pass known as Moffat Road. After his death,
Moffat Tunnel was completed in 1928 and the route continues to serve the passenger ski train that transports thousands of skiers and travelers daily between Denver and Winter Park. Rollins Pass today can be driven, hiked or biked. The road from Rollinsville to the pass takes travelers through historic mining country in southwestern Boulder County. The trail offers views of historic railroad trestles, campsites and the abandoned railway town of Arrow, once a booming metropolis during the early railroad days in the 1920s. Scenery includes streams, lakes, alpine wildflowers and rare wildlife. Rollins Pass is part of the
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) offering hikers a variety of day trips that do not require permits. The CDNST connects Rollins Pass with a number of hiking destinations including Mount Bancroft, Berthoud Pass, Deadman and Corona Lakes. For vehicle tours of Rollins Pass, a 4-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for steep inclines. Under good conditions in warmer months, regular passenger cars and experienced bikers can also travel the pass up to Needles Eye Tunnel, a short railroad tunnel which was closed in 1990 after part of the tunnel collapsed. The pass also provides a route between South Boulder Creek and Fraser River, a tributary of the Colorado River.
