Cucharas Pass

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This article is about the mountain pass. For other places in Colorado, see Cuchara.
Cucharas Pass
Cuchara Pass.JPG
The pass in December, 2012.
Elevation9,995 ft (3,046 m)[1]
Traversed by SH 12
LocationLas Animas / Huerfano counties, Colorado, United States
RangeSangre de Cristo Mountains
Coordinates37°19′13″N 105°04′25″W / 37.32028°N 105.07361°W / 37.32028; -105.07361Coordinates: 37°19′13″N 105°04′25″W / 37.32028°N 105.07361°W / 37.32028; -105.07361
Topo mapUSGS Cucharas Pass

Cucharas Pass is a 9,995 ft (3,046 m) elevation mountain pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in south central Colorado in the United States.

At the top, the pass is signed as Cuchara Pass and the elevation on the sign there reads 9995 ft. State Highway 12 traverses the pass. Highway 12 is also signed as the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway, one of Colorado's Scenic and Historic Byways.

The region gets its name from the spoon-like shape of the valley, with "cuchara" being the Spanish word for "spoon."[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "Cucharas Pass". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
  2. ^ Dawson, John Frank (1954). "Cuchara". Place Names in Colorado: Why 700 Communities Were So Named. p. 16. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
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