Old Monarch Pass divides the watersheds of Porphyry Creek, a tributary of Tomichi Creek and the Gunnison River, to the west and the South Arkansas River to the east.
[1][2][3] A road crossing the Original Monarch Pass was constructed 1880 and served as an important wagon and stage road connecting the town of South Arkansas (later named Salida) on the east side to mining camps and the city of Gunnison on the west side.
In 1922, the road was improved and rerouted to better accommodate motor vehicles.
The new road crossed the divide at a lower saddle 1.1 miles (1.8 km) to the southeast.
During the winter, the road is not plowed but the pass can be reached by skiers and snowmobilers.