View source for Lizard Head Pass

{{Short description|Mountain pass in Colorado}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Lizard Head Pass
| photo = Lizard Head Pass sign.JPG
| photo_caption = The sign at the top of the pass
| elevation_ft = 10222
| elevation_ref = <ref>{{cite gnis |id= 187486 |name= Lizard Head Pass}}</ref>
| traversed = [[Colorado State Highway 145|State Highway 145]]
| location = [[Dolores County, Colorado|Dolores]] / [[San Miguel County, Colorado|San Miguel]] counties, [[Colorado]], [[United States]]
| range = San Juan Mountains
| coordinates = {{coord|37|48.7|N|107|54.5|W|type:pass}}
| topo = Ophir
}}
'''Lizard Head Pass''', elevation {{Convert|10222|ft|m|0}}, is a [[mountain pass]] in the [[San Juan Mountains]] of [[Colorado]], on the border between [[Dolores County, Colorado|Dolores]] and [[San Miguel County, Colorado|San Miguel]] counties.

It is also on the divide between the watersheds of the [[Dolores River]] and [[San Miguel River (Colorado)|San Miguel River]]. The pass lies in the saddle between [[Lizard Head]] and [[Sheep Mountain (San Miguel and Dolores Counties, Colorado)|Sheep Mountain]].

==History==
The pass is named for a prominent nearby peak, the {{Convert|12995|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} spire of [[Lizard Head]]. The pass is currently traversed by [[State Highway 145 (Colorado)|State Highway 145]], about 12 miles south of the [[Telluride, Colorado|Telluride]] turnoff.

It was also used by the historic [[Rio Grande Southern Railroad]] until 1952. Although the grades on both sides of the pass are mild for automobile traffic, this was a significant obstacle for the railroad, and this was a factor leading to the use of the [[Galloping Goose (railcar)|Galloping Goose]] railcars.

==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location = Lizard Head Pass, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals: 10200ft (3109m)
|single line = Yes

|Jan high F = 33.9
|Feb high F = 35.2
|Mar high F = 41.6
|Apr high F = 46.3
|May high F = 54.4
|Jun high F = 64.5
|Jul high F = 68.6
|Aug high F = 66.1
|Sep high F = 60.6
|Oct high F = 51.1
|Nov high F = 41.0
|Dec high F = 33.3
|year high F = 

|Jan mean F = 20.4
|Feb mean F = 21.3
|Mar mean F = 27.2
|Apr mean F = 32.8
|May mean F = 40.7
|Jun mean F = 49.0
|Jul mean F = 54.1
|Aug mean F = 52.3
|Sep mean F = 46.6
|Oct mean F = 37.6
|Nov mean F = 27.7
|Dec mean F = 20.1
|year mean F = 

|Jan low F = 6.9
|Feb low F = 7.4
|Mar low F = 12.7
|Apr low F = 19.3
|May low F = 26.9
|Jun low F = 33.4
|Jul low F = 39.6
|Aug low F = 38.5
|Sep low F = 32.6
|Oct low F = 24.3
|Nov low F = 14.3
|Dec low F = 6.9
|year low F = 

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.62
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.40
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.50
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.57
|May precipitation inch = 2.28
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.93
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.81
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.87
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.58
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.43
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.41
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.53
|year precipitation inch = 

|source 1 = XMACIS2<ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = November 3, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (Precipitation)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USS0007M29S&format=pdf
|title= Lizard Head Pass, Colorado 1991-2020 Monthly Normals 
|access-date = November 3, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==See also==
* {{C|Mountain passes of Colorado}}
* {{C|San Juan Mountains (Colorado)}}

==References==
{{reflist|1}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Lizard Head Pass}}

{{coord|37|48.7|N|107|54.5|W|type:pass|display=title}}
{{clear}}
{{Colorado|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Mountain passes of Colorado]]
[[Category:Landforms of Dolores County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Landforms of San Miguel County, Colorado]]
[[Category:San Juan Mountains (Colorado)]]
[[Category:Rail mountain passes of the United States]]


{{Colorado-geo-stub}}