The Continental Divide

(Right photo: A view of the various divides in North America. The photo is the property of National Atlas and its article about the Continental Divide can be viewed here.)

I have always been interested by the Continental Divide, sometimes referred to as the "Great Divide" of North America. The idea of a high point that seperates major watersheds and river systems is intriguing. At Monarch Pass in Colorado, for example, I could spit on the eastern side of the divide knowing that glob would theoretically flow down to the Arkansas River, then the Mississippi River and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean. A spit on the west side would lead to the Gunnison River and then the Colorado River before flowing into the Pacific Ocean. The Continetal Divide kind of serves as the opposite point of the ocean; it is the backbone of a continent.

Now let me clarify definitions. As noted in the right photo, various continental divides exist in North America. The "Eastern Divide" seperates watersheds that flow to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico respectively. The Northern Divide seperates the continent from north to south and the St. Lawrence Seaway Divide in the northeast USA and eastern Canada is sometimes noted on more sophisticated maps. For this website, I define the "Great Divide" as the Continental Divide.

Ah and let's not forget closed basins - areas in which water drains into the ground instead of flowing down a river. The Great Basin in Nevada is the most noteable example. Also, in a section of land in southwest Wyoming, the Continental Divide splits, creating a basin between it.

During the settlement days, mountains were frequently viewed as pesky obstacles to pass en route to destinations. Hence, the term "pass" was used as the the most passable point (usually the lowest point) on a ridge to cross a mountain range. Today our scenic Rocky Mountains are viewed much differently, but the need to get over mountain ranges to various points will always exist!

I created this website to give me an excuse to intentionally visit as many spots as possible along the Continental Divide. Definitely enjoy my photo collections below! Since I live in Colorado, many photos were taken right here in the Centennial State, but I look forward to visiting New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Canada and elsewhere. Thank you for visiting!

-Steve
Buena Vista, Colorado

Personal Website: www.coloradoguy.com
Twitter: @stevegarufi
Facebook: /coloradoguycom
Google Plus: Steve Garufi

(Right photo: Myself standing at Tincup Pass in central Colorado.)

My Photos and Travels

I've kept it simple: No more than three photos of the views at each spot on the divide.

Wyoming

Craig Pass

Located in Yellowstone National Park.

Colorado

Berthoud Pass	North of Interstate 70 in Colorado.
Eisenhower Tunnel	If you've ever gone skiing / snowboarding in the Interstate 70 corridor, you've probably driven through this.
Loveland Pass	Before the Eisenhower Tunnel opened in the 1970s, this was the pass via Highway 6.
Hoosier Pass	Between Fairplay and Breckenridge.
Fremont Pass	Between Copper Mountain and Leadville.
Tennessee Pass	Between Minturn and Leadville, it is also the site of the Ski Cooper slopes.
Twining Peak	A 13er peak north of Independence Pass.
Independence Pass	Between Twin Lakes and Aspen.
Hagerman Pass	Lesser known pass near Turquoise Lake in Lake County.
Pass West of Turner Peak	Unnamed pass between Cottonwood Pass and Turner Peak. Divides Osbourne Creek and South Texas Creek gulches.
Cottonwood Pass	Between Buena Vista and Taylor Park Reservoir.
Unnamed Peak 12,792'	Unnamed peak approximately 1.5 miles south of Cottonwood Pass.
Mt. Kreutzer	A 13er peak between Cottonwood Pass and Tincup Pass, it is commonly accessed via Mineral Basin.
Emma Burr Mountain	Another majestic 13er accessed via Mineral Basin.
Tincup Pass	Between the towns of St. Elmo and Tincup.
Old Monarch Pass	Located north of Monarch Pass and close to Monarch Mountain ski area.
Monarch Pass	Between Gunnison and Salida.
Marhsall Pass	The pass for an old railroad grade. Between Poncha Springs and Sargeants.
North Cochetopa Pass	Between Saguache and Gunnison.
Wolf Creek Pass	Between South Fork and Pagosa Springs.

New Mexico

State Highway 12	State Highway 12 Between Aragon and Horse Springs.
Pinos Altos, NM	In Pinos Altos.
Highway 180 in Silver City	State Highway 180 in Silver City.
Highway 90 in Silver City	State Highway 90 in Silver City.
Interstate 10	Interstate 10 in Southwest New Mexico.

Canada and Mexico

I currently do not have photos of the Continental Divide outside of the United States.
Have photos? Send them to steve garufi (no space) at juno dot com for consideration! -Steve