Although not one of the more difficult passes in the area, four wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended. At the top of the pass, 12,075 feet, there are great views of the Turquoise Lake area to the east and the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness to the southwest. It's a good scenic drive for viewing wildflowers, pikas and marmots. Just east of the pass, look to the south over Hagerman Lake to see remnants of the Colorado Midland Railroad, which blazed through the wilderness to reach the silver mining town of Aspen in 1887.

Directions from Leadville: From Harrison Street turn on to West Sixth Street to County Road 4. Make a right on to County Road 4, at the "T", and drive to County Road 9 and the Sugarloaf Dam Site. From the Dam drive 4 miles to Hagerman Pass Road (Forest Road 105). Hagerman Pass Road will be on the left or south side of County Road 9.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: July through October (NOTE: Hagerman Pass Road is closed for natural resource protection from May 15 to June 30. Expect snow and mud in the Spring, Fall and Winter months.) .

Colorado Trail (Turquoise Lake to Halfmoon Creek) - This section of the Colorado Trail is known as #10. It begins west of Turquoise Lake and ends 11.5 miles later in the Halfmoon Creek drainage.

Native Trail - This trail exists within the Mount Massive Wilderness Area. Hikers or horseback riders may use a number of different trail routes that vary in difficulty and/or length.

Turquoise Lake General Forest Area - The Turquoise Lake General Forest Area provides access to a plethora of recreation opportunities. Activities on land as well as in the water can be enjoy throughout the year.