Hagerman Pass is one of the Rocky Mountains' highest-elevation mountain passes, crossing Colorado's Continental Divide at an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet. The pass, which embarks near Leadville and crosses the Sawatch Range, was named in honor of Colorado Midland Railroad builder James J. Hagerman, formerly housing the noted Hagerman and Busk-Ivanhoe railway tunnels. Today, visitors can traverse the pass on foot or with adequately hardy vehicles during the summer months, including four-wheel-drive vehicles, offroad motorcycles, and ATVs. The pass is open to travelers between late May and the arrival of the season's first heavy snowfall, usually sometime during mid-autumn. Stunning views of the Rocky Mountains are offered, along with views of the nearby Arkansas and Colorado River basins.

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