La Veta Pass

Colorado's high-country ghost towns sit at altitudes that would give a flatlander nosebleeds — silver camps killed by an 1893 vote in Washington.

La Veta Pass is the name associated with two mountain passes in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States, both on the boundary between Costilla and Huerfano counties. Old La Veta Pass (officially La Veta Pass), elevation 9,380 ft (2,860 m), was at one time a main travel route between the San Luis Valley and Walsenburg, first on the narrow gauge Denver and Rio Grande Railway, and later on a wagon road and then highway following the same alignment.

The on-the-ground condition of La Veta Pass is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to La Veta Pass is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for La Veta Pass is roughly 37.6139, -105.1892 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.