Old Old Monarch Pass

Experience a piece of history and hike up to the summit of the ORIGINAL Monarch Pass Toll Road of the 1800's. Old Old Monarch Pass is located on the Continental Divide at the boundary of the Monarch Ski Area. Just like the old toll road, THIS CACHE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE IN SUMMER. The pass can be approached from several different directions, and either way, a hike of at least 1 1/3 miles plus an elevation gain of 600'-900' is involved. Elevation of the old old summit: 11,523'

The geocache is hidden on the Continental Divide at the summit of Old Old Monarch Pass. NO NEED TO BRING TRADE ITEMS! If you're willing to make the trip, just take a souvenir from the cache as a remembrance of times gone by. The cache is in a small clear Rubbermaid box. A short hike up the rocky hill to the north above the summit will give you spectacular 360-degree views.

The Monarch Pass Toll Road was a wagon-road built by Sam and Hugh Boone in 1979 in order to provide access to the White Pine and Tomichi mining areas across the Divide from the upper Arkansas valley. It was opened in 1800, and in 1881 it became a stagecoach route. This road was only open in the summer months, as the winter snow made the route impassable. In 1919, work began on a new, shorter, less steep and dangerous route which is known today as "Old Monarch Pass", elevation 11,375'. This new route was opened to "automobiles" in 1921. The new route merged with the old old road on the west side of the pass at the top of all the sharp hairpin curves, about 5 miles above the Whitepine Road, and from there the hairpin curves criss-cross the old old road. Monarch Pass on HWY 50 is actually the third Monarch Pass, and was opened in 1939.

ROUTES:
The east approach to the old old pass starts in the Monarch Ski Area parking lot:
(see waypoint chart below)
The old toll road on this side of the old old pass is an improved gravel road, but only authorized ski area vehicles may drive on it. However, it is available to hikers, horseback-riders and mountain bikers. This route offers a steady uphill climb to the pass, and is 1 1/3 miles long with an elevation gain of 900'. The gate to the parking lot is open during the summer on weekdays only, until 4pm. The ski area is in the San Isabel National Forest -- It's OK to walk into the parking lot and go hiking at the ski area when the gate is closed.

The west approach starts from the Old Monarch Pass Road:
(see waypoint chart below)
A short trail connects the Old Monarch Pass Road with the unimproved old toll road to the old old pass. This western portion of the road is in more authentic condition than the east side. Numerous earthen barriers across the old toll road discourage 4WD use. (The last barrier, about 1/2 mile from the summit, looks impassable with no place to turn around.) This route is an easier hike than the east approach, and is 1 1/3 miles long with an elevation gain of 600'.

A third option is to hike along the Continental Divide Trail from Old Monarch Pass to Old Old Monarch Pass. (See waypoint chart below)
This route is about 1 1/2 miles long. The difference in elevation between the two passes is about 150' (Old Old Monarch Pass is higher), but you have to climb a 500' hill and back down again to get there.

Additional Waypoints
CD2B4XY - Continental Divide Trail
N 38° 30.002 W 106° 20.215
Trailhead is on the Old Monarch Pass Road, a bit to the east of Old Monarch Pass.
ET2B4XY - Monarch Ski Area parking lot access
N 38° 30.830 W 106° 19.903
Trailhead on the East Side of the old old pass. Trail starts at the north end of the ski area parking lot.
WT2B4XY - Old Monarch Pass Road access
N 38° 30.184 W 106° 21.597
Trailhead on the West side of the old old pass. Trail starts at large hairpin curve about 2.5 miles down the west side of the Old Monarch Pass Road.