4X4Explore.com - Pearl Pass

Pearl Pass

Maps:

USGS 7.5' Map:

Gothic, Pearl Pass, Hayden Peak

Statistics:

Difficulty:	Number:	Miles:	Altitude:	Obstacles:	Time:
Moderate 6	FR738, Cnty 15	14.20	9,000 to 12,705 ft.	Ledge - 2, Rocks - 5	5-6 hours

County:

Gunnison, Pitkin

Adopted by:

Blue Mesa 4 Wheelers

803 Noth Pine, Gunnison, CO 81230

(970)641-3661

Managed by:

Gunnison National Forest,
Gunnison Ranger District
Pitkin County

216 N. Colorado, Gunnison, CO 81230

530 E. Main St. 3rd Floor, Aspen, CO 81611

(970)641-0471

(970)920-5200

Summary:

Pearl Pass is a long 4WD road that connects Crested Butte with Aspen. It crosses the Continental Divide between Pearl Mountain and Star Peak. Some mining was done on the north side of the pass around Malamute Peak and along Castle Creek.

Attractions:

Pass, Scenic, Historic

Seasonal
Closure:

Agency - February 29 to May 26

Best Time:

June - North side will still be snowed in
July - May still be snowed in
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows may close the pass

Summer
Activities:

Hiking -

Brush Creek Trail FT 400 - 5.7 miles long
Twin Lakes Trail FT 402 - 2.9 miles long
Farris Creek Trail FT 409 - 6.1 miles long
Teocalli Mountain Trail FT 554 - 2.3 miles long
Teocalli Ridge Trail FT 557 - 4.6 miles long
Cumberland Basin Trail FT 579 - 2.1 miles long

Equestrian -

Mountain Bike -

Brush Creek Trail FT 400 - 5.7 miles long
Farris Creek Trail FT 409 - 6.1 miles long
Teocalli Mountain Trail FT 554 - 2.3 miles long
Teocalli Ridge Trail FT 557 - 4.6 miles long

ATV -

West Brush Creek FR 738.2A
West Brush Creek FR 582

Motorcycle -

Brush Creek Trail FT 400 - 5.7 miles long
Farris Creek Trail FT 409 - 6.1 miles long
Teocalli Mountain Trail FT 554 - 2.3 miles long
Teocalli Ridge Trail FT 557 - 4.6 miles long

Camping:

There are dispersed campsites all along Brush Creek, south side. Castle Creek, on the north side, has seven designated sites close to the Castle Creek Road south of Aspen.

Base Camp:

This would be a good area to base camp. There are many 4WD roads around Crested Butte on the south side of Pearl Pass and Aspen on the north side of Pearl Pass.

Fall Colors:

Excellent - The Crested Butte side of Pearl Pass is through large aspen groves.

Winter
Activities:

Snowshoeing -

Cross Country Skiing-

Snowmobile -

Navigation:

From Crested Butte, CO head south on Colorado-135 toward Belleview Ave. Go 1.9 miles and turn left onto Co Rd 738. Go 4.6 miles and take a slight right. Go 1.0 mile. Continue on FR 738, the Pearl Pass road.

From Aspen, CO head west on West Main Street toward North 1st Street for 0.5 miles. Turn right onto North 7th Street and go 0.1 miles. Turn left onto Colorado-82 and head west for 0.5 miles. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto Castle Creek Road and go 13.0 miles to a right hand turn onto a gravel road. This is the start of the Pearl Pass road, County Rd 15.

From Gunnison, CO head north on Colorado-135/Main Street for 25.3 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 738 before reaching Crested Butte. Go 4.6 miles and turn right at a field gate. Go 1.0 mile to the forest boundary and the start of the Pearl Pass road.

History:

In the summer of 1879 prospectors crossed the pass and found gold in the creeks above Ashcroft. By 1882 a wagon road had been established to haul the ore from the new mines to the mills near Crested Butte. After three years the route was no longer used because of othe roads that were lower and had better access.

Helmuth, Ed and Gloria. The Passes of Colorado Boulder, Colorado: Pruett, 1994. Print.

Description:

To drive Pearl Pass from the Creseted Butte side you will drive through a residential area near the Crested Butte Airport and then on to the bottom lands of Brush Creek passing the Brush Creek Cow Camp. Once you enter the public lands the road becomes a two track 4WD road. You will come to an intersection with West Brush Creek 4WD road, FR738.2A, to the left that heads up a drainage to the Wilderness boundary below Teocalli Mountain. Stay to the right to continue on the Pearl Pass road. Shortly you will come to a parking area and developed camping area with a forest service restroom. This is Tent City.

	Tent City kiosk photo by: Adam M

Just over a quarter mile from Tent City you will drop down and cross West Brush Creek where it connects with Brush Creek. The road will climb up out of the creek valley and head across open lands.

	Mount Crested Butte. Pearl Pass road just above trees. photo by: Adam M

You will pass the Farris Creek Trail (FT409) connection on the right after crossing West Brush Creek. The road continues to climb through a series of broad switchbacks that take you through small groves of aspen trees well above the creek.

	Aspen grove photo by: Adam M

	Larger aspen grove photo by: Adam M

Next you will pass the connection with Teocalli Ridge Trail (FT557) on your left before dropping down closer to Brush Creek. There are quite a few designated dispersed camp sites along the creek through this area. After crossing Brush Creek the connection with the Brush Creek Trail, FR400, will be on your right. Brush Creek Trail is a 4WD road for just over a mile and then becomes a motorcycle trail. The Pearl Pass road heads north following the creek and climbing through pine forests. As the road climbs higher it will come out into more open terrain giving you great views of the Continental Divide.

	Continental Divide photo by: Adam M

You will drive through another section of pine forest before heading to the northeast and passing the Twin Lakes trail head for access into the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness. The road will continue northeast following the creek.

	Valley along Brush Creek photo by: Adam M

	Mount Crested Butte in the distance. Pearl Pass road below. photo by: Adam M

You will come to two areas that are mud holes that have had road maintenance work done to harden these areas. Once past these mud holes you will climb a long switchback that crosses a talus slope giving you great views of the valley you just drove up.

	Talus slope section photo by: Adam M

This section of the 4WD road is narrow. The road will continue around the south side of a spur off of Pearl Mountain before heading north again. There will be two flat areas that make nice camps spots just below timberline.

	Two vehicles on the road, left of center. photo by: Adam M

As you continue to climb the terrain will become more rocky now that you are above timberline.

	Looking down from above timberline photo by: Adam M

	Above timberline photo by: Adam M

At the top of a long ridge you will have a view of Peal Pass to the north.

	Pearl Pass, right of center. photo by: Adam M

Continue along on the legde road being aware of any oncoming traffic. There are few places to pass on this section. Finally you will reach Pearl Pass, a sharp ridgeline with little space to park.

	Pearl Pass looking northeast photo by: Adam M

Immediately the road continues down the north side of the ridge. You are now on the Aspen Ranger District, and have changed to County Road 15.

	Pearl Pass, north side. photo by: Adam M

The landscape will change to a broken field of large boulders. Chunks of rock off of Pearl Mountain to your west.

	Rock field photo by: Adam M

The road works its way across this rocky landscape and heads for the rolling tundra ahead of you. The road will continue to head mainly north giving you views of Pearl Pass.

	Pearl Pass from the north photo by: Adam M

You will enter a more vegetated area and then start down a series of short switchbacks to gain access to the creek in the valley below.

	Switchbacks heading down to Castle Creek photo by: Adam M

	Paula K coming up the obstacle on the switchbacks photo by: Adam M

There will be a cabin at one of the long sections of road before a sharp switchback. This is just before you cross Castle Creek and then head further down the valley. You will also pass the Tagert Hut on the other side of the creek. At the first turn of a short switchback you will pass the intersection to the left for the Montezuma Mine Road (FR129). There is a sign here marking the Pearl Pass Road.

	Pearl Pass sign coming up from Ashcroft side photo by: Adam M

Continue down the switchbacks. You will pass views of some short and tall waterfalls as you head down the valley. You will pass a house along the road as well. On the other side of the creek from the private property you can see the remains of an old mine operation.

	Mine remains photo by: Adam M

After you cross the creek again you will start passing designated campsites on both sides of the road. You will also pass a small pond before connecting with the paved part of County Road 15 that heads down to Aspen, CO.

	Start of Pearl Pass road from Ashcroft side photo by: Adam M

Data updated - January 1, 2025 4WD Road driven - September 1, 2024 Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2025