Top mountain passes
Mountain PassMcKenzie Pass
Mountain PassLolo Pass
Mountain PassSantiam Pass
Mountain PassWillamette Pass
Mountain PassSiskiyou Summit
Mountain PassPicture Rock Pass
Mountain PassTygh Grade Summit
Mountain PassHigh Pass (Oregon)
Mountain PassEmigrant Pass
Mountain PassAbbot Pass
Mountain PassSiskiyou Pass
Mountain PassEldorado Pass
Mountain Passes by county
All mountain passes (25)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKenzie Pass | Deschutes County | 1,590 m | Sisters | 2 |
| Lolo Pass | Hood River County | 1,048 m | Mount Hood Village | 3 |
| Santiam Pass | Linn County | 1,463 m | Sisters | 2 |
| Willamette Pass | Klamath County | 1,563 m | Oakridge | 2 |
| Siskiyou Summit | Jackson County | — | Ashland | 3 |
| Picture Rock Pass | Lake County | — | Deschutes River Woods | 1 |
| Tygh Grade Summit | Wasco County | — | The Dalles | 2 |
| High Pass (Oregon) | Lane County | 464 m | Junction City | 3 |
| Emigrant Pass | Klamath County | 1,722 m | Oakridge | 2 |
| Abbot Pass | Clackamas County | 1,082 m | Mount Hood Village | 3 |
| Siskiyou Pass | Jackson County | 1,369 m | Ashland | 3 |
| Eldorado Pass | Malheur County | 1,415 m | Baker City | 1 |
| Barlow Pass | Hood River County | 1,267 m | Mount Hood Village | 3 |
| Blue Mountain Pass | Malheur County | 1,614 m | Winnemucca | 1 |
| Bly Mountain Pass | Klamath County | 1,547 m | Altamont | 2 |
| Drews Gap | Lake County | — | Lakeview | 1 |
| Criterion Summit | Wasco County | — | Warm Springs | 2 |
| Hayden Mountain Summit | Klamath County | — | Klamath Falls | 2 |
| Butte Creek Summit | Wheeler County | — | Madras | 2 |
| Cline Hill Summit | Lincoln County | — | Toledo | 3 |
| Polaris Pass | Baker County | — | Joseph | 1 |
| Hogback Summit | Lake County | — | Altamont | 1 |
| Long Creek Mountain Summit | Grant County | — | John Day | 1 |
| Ochoco Summit | Wheeler County | — | Prineville | 2 |
| Blue Mountain Summit | Grant County | — | Baker City | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
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.