Rollins (Corona) Pass Colorado
Today the Amtrak goes through a 6 mile long tunnel. In the gold rush days the trains went over this pass. Sometimes called "Moffat Road"
I have been up both sides of the this pass. From the east and the west. These photos are taken on my trip in September of 2004 up the western side, known as Corona Pass. In the late 1970's you could still drive across the old railroad trestle. That is if you were brave enough. I drove my jeep this time right up to the tunnel. Some fairly steep grades with loose rocks and nice drop-offs. Look at the last pictures in the group. If you go, take your time as there is plenty to see. Here is an OLD map to guide you.
A reader writes. - I just wanted to share that, my uncle, Martin Rhodes, originally engineered the 6-mile tunnel that Amtrak now goes through. He died in November 1963, 2 days before John Kennedy. He was married to Grace Harris Rhodes, my dad's sister. She died in 1994 in Littleton/Denver area. Most my family still live in Arora County, Wheatridge, Littleton and Brush.
A reader writes - Stumbled across your website and the pics of Rollins Pass. My first crossing was sometime in the mid-60's with my dad and mom in old 58 Dodge car. We actually drove all of the way east to west several times over the next few years. My last trip over the pass was on the Labor day weekend 1971. There was snow on the west side of the tunnel and over the railroad trestle. We made it up the hill and over the top in a 64 Dodge Dart wagon with only one snow tire. We stopped in Winter Park for a beer and then back over Berthoud to home. At that time you could still drive through the tunnel also. That pass has some high pucker places in it but I have great memories from those trips. Great website. Tom L. Pocatello, Idaho
A viewer writes -
Enjoyed the pictures on your site. I made an attempt to drive across Rollings
from the east side in early September, 1973. I remember seeing a freight train
headed for the Moffat tunnel being pulled by FIVE engines, and only crawling at
25mph. I don't know how far I made it up the east side because I was forced to
turn around after a sharp rock in the road (by then only two ruts in the rocks
and dirt) removed one of the mufflers on my '68 Plymouth. It was fully dark by
then and I somehow was able to turn around and head back to Denver with a very
noisy car. Having seen pictures of the whole route I now realize I was lucky to
be forced to give it up before I got into a truly dangerous situation in the
dark. I had no idea the entire road was 28 miles long nor do I know how far I
got, except I was still in the trees at the point I turned around. When I gave
it up it seemed like I had been driving for hours. I was high enough that the
road was in poor condition--only two ruts with many sharp rocks protruding from
the ground between the ruts, one of which tore off my right muffler. Lesson
learned--I never tried that again, but am glad to see what I didn't get to see.
In retrospect I was very lucky I only lost a muffler. An ordinary car, darkness
on the way, no idea of how far I had to go, it was crazy to attempt on a
September afternoon with daylight ending so soon. I was 28 at the time, and knew
nothing of driving on unpaved mountain roads.
I was surprised to read others' comments about driving that road in ordinary
autos, and I have read on the Rollins Pass Restoration Association's website
that it was an open road for auto traffic from 1955 until the first tunnel
collapse. No doubt I was seriously hampered by the fall of darkness, but by the
time I turned around, I thought the road was no place for an ordinary car, there
were so many sharp rocks between the ruts.
Thanks for posting your nice pictures.
A viewer writes - Reading other people’s experiences is a giggle. Before the tunnel was closed the first time I rode over it from Rollinsville on a 750-K1 Honda motorcycle with Class C road racing tires. There are lots worse roads in Colorado, and after the first trip, I went over several times in a passenger car…susan
A viewer writes - Monday, November 17, 2008 - I just took a trip in October 2008 up Rollins Pass from the west side with my boyfriend and his family. We drove up to the sign that tells about Rollins Pass. We could've driven all the way to the Needle's Eye tunnel but it was getting late and we wanted to head back down. Oh yeah, it was in a Dodge Caravan! :-P It was a rental and we had a family friend from the area who is an experienced off-roader drive it. We got to the top and saw someone in an old pickup truck with a camper shell camping out up there. Brr! It is really beautiful up there at the top of the world. Its exactly like it was describe so long ago! As you're driving along you can see parts of the old snow sheds and buildings that were at the top of the pass. The conditions were great! The ride was a bit bumpy from time to time. Definitely would recommend using a 4 wheel drive vehicle unless the conditions are absolutely perfect.
A viewer writes - Monday, March 08, 2010 - Wow! Such memories......such scary memories! My family and I made several trips over Rollins pass in the late 60's and early 70's. I was born in 1960 so I was fairly young at the time. We took a Rambler or a Volkswagen Van on these trips and made it every time. My most vivid memories were the crossing of the Devils Slide trestle, nothing scared me more.
Rocky Mountain Profiles Colorado Ghost Towns and Colorado Photos – Niwot Colorado