Union Pass

Union Pass
Elevation 9,212 ft (2,808 m)[1]
Traversed by Prehistoric
Location Fremont County, Wyoming, US
Range Wind River Range
Coordinates 43°28′53″N 109°52′36″W / 43.48139°N 109.87667°W / 43.48139; -109.87667Coordinates: 43°28′53″N 109°52′36″W / 43.48139°N 109.87667°W / 43.48139; -109.87667[2]
Topo map USGS Fish Creek Park (WY)
Union Pass
Location Wind River Range
Nearest city Dubois, Wyoming
NRHP Reference # 69000367
Added to NRHP April 4, 1969

Union Pass is a high mountain pass in the Wind River Range situated in Fremont County of western Wyoming in the United States. The pass is located on the Continental Divide between the Gros Ventre mountains on the west and the Wind River Range on the east. A triple divide exists nearby, where water may flow to the Mississippi River, Columbia River, or Colorado River.[3] The pass was historically used by Native Americans and early mountain men including the Astor Expedition in 1811 on its way west. On the return trip, fearing hostile Indian activity near Union Pass, the Astorians chose a southern route and discovered South Pass.

The pass was named by U.S. Army Captain William F. Raynolds in 1860. Raynolds was in charge of the Raynolds Expedition which was exploring the Yellowstone region immediately prior to the Civil War. After mountain man and guide Jim Bridger led the expedition over the pass, Raynolds gave the pass its current name.[4]

The Wyoming state highway map lists the following trails of the Union Pass area:[3]

An unimproved dirt road crosses the pass, connecting U.S. Route 287 near Dubois to U.S. Route 189 in Pinedale.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Union Peak, WY (Map). Topoquest (USGS Quads). Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  2. ↑ "Union Pass". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  3. 1 2 Official State Highway Map of Wyoming (Map). Wyoming Department of Transportation. 2014.
  4. ↑ Chittenden, Hiram Martin (April 1, 2005) [1911]. The Yellowstone National Park Historical and Descriptive. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. p. 57. ISBN 1-4179-0456-9.


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