Elwood Pass or Wolf Creek Pass? Surveys test the trails

Photo courtesy John M. Motter
The Chapson family lived on the West Fork of the San Juan River when Wolf Creek Pass was built. They provided horses and guiding service for choosing the route.

We’ve been writing about how Wolf Creek Pass came to replace Elwood Pass as the main entryway across the San Juan Mountains into Pagosa Springs and the Four Corners area. Picking up from last week’s column:

“Mr. Herr, who was a member of the State Highway Advisory Board at that time, was a resident of Durango, and he and Senator West and the others were active in urging the rebuilding of the connection between the San Juan Basin to the San Luis Valley.