Top mountain passes
Mountain PassSarana Pass
Mountain PassJarmin Pass
Mountain PassAbraham-Temnac Pass
Mountain PassJackass Pass
Mountain PassNorth Pass
Mountain PassThiel Pass
Mountain PassWilliwaw Pass
Mountain PassKaufman Pass
Mountain PassRainy Pass
Mountain PassClevesy Pass
Mountain PassAlexai Pass
Mountain PassAustin Pass
Mountain PassGreenwood Pass
Mountain PassSalmon Pass
Mountain PassMiddle Pass
Mountain PassEtienne Pass
Mountain PassSouth Pass
Mountain PassCloudy Pass
Map
How to photograph mountain passes
Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.
- Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
- Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
- Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
- Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
- Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.
Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.