The pass sits atop the southern end of the Mosquito Range on the Park-Chaffee county line, between South Park (the headwaters of the South Platte River to the east) and the headwaters of the Arkansas River to the west.

Most motorised vehicles can travel on it, and it is only ever closed during really bad winter storms.

Curiously, the elevation stated on the highway sign at the summit (see attached picture) appears to be in error by about 140 ft (43 m), as it disagrees with well-established topographic maps[1] as well as published data.

Road cuts along the eastern approach to the pass reveal Pennsylvanian black shale and thin gray limestone layers that were laid down prior to the creation of the Ancestral Rockies.

These Paleozoic layers were not uplifted during the creation of the Ancestral Rockies approximately 300 MYA and thus were not eroded to the same degree as other areas to the east and west.