Los Pinos Pass
Los Pinos Pass (elevation ) is a mountain pass in Saguache County of south-central Colorado. It is located in the northern San Juan Mountains, a sub-range of the Rocky Mountains, and divides the waters of Cebolla Creek to the west and Los Pinos Creek to the east. Los Pinos Pass is traversed by Forest Road 788. According to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names and as shown on U.S. Geological Survey maps, the spelling of the pass is Los Pinos Pass, however the pronunciation is typically the Spanish Los Piños Pass and some authors use the Spanish spelling. History In 1874, the Hayden Survey found a well established Ute trail traversing Los Pinos Pass. Survey parties used the Ute trail to travel between the Los Pinos Indian Agency southwest over the pass to Cebolla Creek and then upstream to what is now known as Spring Creek Pass on their way to the headwaters of the Rio Grande. By the mid-1870s, mining in the San Juan Mountains resulted in the construction of trails and wagon roads connecting the increasing number of new mining camps and growing towns. In 1874 road builder Otto Mears constructed the Saguache and San Juan Toll Road