Top mountain passes
Mountain PassTogwotee Pass
Teton Pass
Mountain PassCraig Pass
Two Ocean Pass
Hurricane Pass
Paintbrush Divide
Static Peak Divide
Phillips Pass
Fox Creek Pass
Jackass Pass
Mount Meek Pass
Moose Basin Divide
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.