Berthoud Pass

Berthoud Pass
View from the summit of Berthoud Pass
Elevation	11,307 ft (3,446 m)
Traversed by	US 40
Location	Clear Creek / Grand counties, Colorado, United States
Range	Rocky Mountains
Coordinates	39°47′52″N 105°46′37″W / 39.79778°N 105.77694°W / 39.79778; -105.77694

Berthoud Pass (/ˈbɜːrθəd/ BURTH-əd; el. 11,307 ft./3446 m.) is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.

The pass is located west of Denver, and provides a high route between upper Clear Creek Canyon to the upper valley of the Fraser River in Middle Park to the north. The pass traverses the continental divide at the Front Range, on the border between Clear Creek County and Grand County.

The pass is named for Edward L. Berthoud, the chief surveyor of the Colorado Central Railroad during the 1870s. Accompanied by Jim Bridger, Berthoud discovered the pass in July 1861 while surveying a possible route for the railroad. Berthoud concluded that the pass was suitable as a wagon road, but not as a railroad, and was then hired by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company to survey a route over the pass to Salt Lake.