Eastern Mojave Vegetation Colorado State Highway 145, Colorado  
 

Tom Schweich  
Home Page  North-south near Telluride, to Cortez.

Other articles:
• Colorado State Highway 141:   near Naturita;  

 Junction: Colorado State Highway 141

Other articles:
• CO St Hwy 62:   at CO 145;  

 Junction: Colorado State Highway 62, to US Highway 550 at Ridgway.
  Junction: W. Hwy 145 Spur … to Telluride.

Locations: Ophir Loop.  

Ophir Loop

The town of Ophir is about two miles to the east.

Locations: Lizard Head Pass.  

Lizard Head Pass

Lizard Head Pass, elevation 10,222 feet (3,116 m), is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, on the border between Dolores and San Miguel counties.

It is also on the divide between the watersheds of the Dolores River and San Miguel River. The pass lies in the saddle between Lizard Head and Sheep Mountain.

The pass is named for a prominent nearby peak, the 12,995 ft (3,961 m) spire of Lizard Head. The pass is currently traversed by State Highway 145, about 12 miles south of the Telluride turnoff.

It was also used by the historic Rio Grande Southern Railroad until 1952. Although the grades on both sides of the pass are mild for automobile traffic, this was a significant obstacle for the railroad, and this was a factor leading to the use of the Galloping Goose railcars.

Locations: Rico.  

Rico

Rico was settled in 1879 as a silver mining center in the Pioneer Mining District; today it functions as a historic and tourism site. The population was 288 at the 2020 census. Rico is a name derived from Spanish meaning "rich".

 

 

Locations: Dolores.  

Dolores

 

Other articles:
• Colorado State Highway 184:   at CO 145 N;  

 Junction: Colorado State Highway 184, east to Mancos.

Other articles:
• Colorado State Highway 184:   at CO 145 S;  

 Junction: Colorado State Highway 184, west to US 491 at Roundup Junction.

Other articles:
• US Highway 160:   east of Cortez;  

 Junction: US Highway 160, at the eastern edge of Cortez.
If you have a question or a comment you may write to me at: tomas@schweich.com I sometimes post interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address.  

[Home Page] [Site Map]

Date and time this article was prepared: 3/11/2026 7:49:17 PM