Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-21
new HIGHWAY over MONARCH
PASSmL THRILL AUTOlST
Easy Grade, Surfaced Road, Extraordinary Beautiful
Scenery, Perfect Curves-Nothing Better
In the State Of Colorado

west of salida and due east Of Gunni-
sin. mas4g almost an air line be-
tween tie two citis. The distance Is
s-venty-fhree miles. exactly fifty OF
which is on the Gunnison side. Only
twenty eight of this is included in the
government project, but all is ex-
cellent auto road, and cars are max
ing it as quickly as 3 hours and 30
minutes, altho time by train, between
the two cities, by the Marshall pass
route which very nearly parallels the
highway, Is hours and 25 minutes
cording TO garage men who assert
that the stream OF travel has been
constantly increasing for the six
weeks the pass has been opened until
100 cars a day are crossing the crest
OF the Rockies at this point
Starting ives. from salida are
many points OF Interest. The road
leads along the Little Arkansas five
miles to poncha Junction, at which
point the Rio Grande napowgase
over Marshall pass and the Poncha
pass auto road to the San Luis Valley
turn to the left. BY this southern
branch of the Rainbow Route one
gets to the western slope via Coche-
topa pass, also fine government
usually open two months later in tho
fall and earlier in the spring than any
other crossing OF the mountains in
Colorado. Altho It has this advant-
age and Is a delightful alternative
road for the return trip. its distance
Is sixty miles further TO Parlin and
Gunnison where the two branches
OF the Rainbow Route again unite
west of the divide. The new Monarch
pass road takes the right hand di-
rcction across the mesa above Salida,
gradually approaching the mighty
H.
the old town of Maysville the car be-
gins to climb evenly alongside
typical mountain stream past the
mining camps OF Garfield and Mon
arch. At Monarch. which is feeling
the reiuvena,ion caused by such
stream OF travel. one is but four
miles from the top of the pass. Just
above the town Is Monarch park, q
lovely wide dell in the hills. ideally
situated for camping parties. Final
grading Of the highway which swings
half way round the park. IN gaining
altitude on an even grade. was only
completed last week. The top or the
pass. twenty-three miles from salida
Is soon in sight. sharp cut In the sky
line lust at timber line. At the top ~
q fine observatory point which tour
lists can climb In five minute walk
and from which one gets most
magnificent panorama of both sides
VI An' NfIAhA'hNtA hN
thusIas site camera artist will revel In
tho sweep of peaks and plateaus
stretching east to tho great plains be-
yond Pueblo and west far AZ tho
eve can reach. across tho wooded
stretches and we'll wstered wales of
ths Gunnison into the Uncompahere.
and Colorado valleys and even to the
Sal peaks of Utah.
The graded portion OF tn. Western
side includes a ten mile drop off the
pass into the Tomichi valley and six
miles Of fast road into Sarsents. Tho
tourist or pleasure seeker will find
many beautiful spots to tempt his
camera and tho motorist will be en-
thrnllcd with the magnificent graded
and surfaced highway.
Al the foot OF the pass. one car
take a short cutoff to the famous
TNaunitz Hot Springs resort, or con-
tinue the main thorofare to Sargents.
Gunnison and the entire Western
slope Nearly all the heavier grade
is alongside streams so that water Is
abundant. and camping places easy
to find. Tho trunk line OF the Noun
tain States Telephone company, also
parallels this road.
ANY Colorado motorist planning to
cross tho range this wall win find his
fondest hopes eSceiled by trying out
the splendid new highway over Mon
arch pass.