Cars and driving - Mountains
The Highway of Legends loops over a high dirt road at Cordova Pass
An extension of the Highway of Legends climbs a narrow dirt road over Cordova Pass, which sits high and stays closed much of the year.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 11, 2026
Most of the Highway of Legends is paved, two-lane mountain road on Highways 12 and 160. But the byway has an extension that leaves the pavement: a dirt road that climbs over Cordova Pass, listed at roughly 11,200 feet, on a county road through the San Isabel National Forest. It links the high point near Cuchara, on Highway 12, over toward Aguilar on the east side.
This is a beautiful drive, but it is a different kind of road than the main byway. It is narrow, unpaved, and high. At that elevation it holds snow well into spring and closes for the cold months, so it is a summer-and-early-fall route, not a year-round shortcut. A capable vehicle, a full tank, and good tires matter more here than on the paved sections.
The reason to plan ahead is simple: a map app may show this as just another line connecting two towns, when in practice it can be closed, rough, or slow. If you are new to the area or towing anything, the paved loop is the safer default.
Before you count on Cordova Pass, check current road status and the season it is open with the Colorado Department of Transportation byway page and the U.S. Forest Service.