Black Sage Pass  
Maps:            
USGS 7.5' Map: Garfield, Sargents
Statistics:
Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time:
Easy 1 FR 887 6.70 8,960 - 9,720 ft. NA 1 hour
County: Gunnison
Adopted by:      
Managed by: Grand Mesa/Uncompahgre/Gunnison National Forest
Gunnison Ranger District
216 N. Colorado
Gunnison, CO 81230
970-641-0471
Summary: Black Sage Pass is a low altitude pass between Whitepine, CO and Waunita Hot Springs, CO. The road is graded on the east side, becoming a two track on the west side as it crosses Wuanita Park.
Attractions: Scenery
Seasonal
Closure:
Natural - Black Sage Pass is closed by heavy snows
Best Time: June - Best, possible snow drifts
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best, fall colors
October - Best
Trail Heads
Accessed:
Quakey Mountain Trail - FT537 at the end of FR887.4C.
Camping: There is some dispersed camping at the pass and possibly along the spur roads FR887.4A,.4B,.4C,.4G.
Base Camp: This would be a good area to base camp to explore the roads around Wuanita Pass and west of Wuanita Park.
Fall Colors: Average - The lower parts of the pass will offer some views. The top of the pass is all pine forest.
Navigation: From Sargents, CO head east on US Hwy 50 for 1.2 miles. Turn left onto Cnty Road 888 and go 6.1 miles to Cnty Road 888, there will be a sign indicating Black Sage Pass.

From Gunnison, CO head east on US Hwy 50 for 18.5 miles. Turn left on to Cnty Road 887. Go 8.8 miles, passing Wuanita Hot Springs Resort and turn right to continue on Cnty Road 887, the Black Sage Pass road.
History: Black Sage Pass is named for nearby Black Sage Peak. The Hayden survey party used this pass to travel between Pitkin and Whitepine. In 1880 a route over the pass was developed for the rich silver mines in the Pitkin area. In 1882 the Denver and South Park Railroad reached Pitkin via the Alpine Tunnel near Hancock Pass and would have ended the use of Black Sage except that the resort at Waunita Hot Springs still needed regular stagecoach service for passengers and supplies. In the late 1890's there was still an operating stage station on top of the pass.

Koch, Don. The Colorado Pass Book, 3rd ed. Boulder, Colorado: Pruett, 2000. Print.
Helmuth, Ed and Gloria. The Passes of Colorado Boulder, Colorado: Pruett, 1994. Print.
Description:
Black Sage Pass divides Spring Creek to the west and Mountain Spring Creek to the east. Black Sage Pass is a low altitude pass that connects Cnty Road 888 with Wuanita Park. The road follows Cnty Road 887 / Forest Service Road 887 up the Mountain Spring Creek drainage through the forest. There are a few opening giving distant views of Quakey Mountain (10,454 ft.) as you climb the two long switchbacks.

From the top of Black Sage Pass you will gradually descend the west side into the large open Wuanita Park. It is private property used for cattle grazing. The road heads toward a power line and then parrallels it down the park to a T intersection. A left turn continues on Cnty Road 887 past the Wuanita Hot Springs Resort and then on out to US Hwy 50
Data updated: February 7, 2014      4WD Road driven: September 4, 2011      Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2014