Back
Lizard Head Pass: Highway 145, San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Photo: cogdogblog · CC BY 2.0 · cropped

Drives Colorado Durango, Telluride and the San Juans

Lizard Head Pass: Highway 145

CO 145 · Telluride → Dolores

Leisurely61 mi1 hr 15 min3,000 ft climbHigh point ≈ 10,300 ftOne way
Scan to drive it in CarvePoint a phone's camera here. It opens ready to drive.
Drive it in Carve, free

Opens this route in the app, or where to get it.

Drive this road
in the appOpen

The drive

Highway 145 climbs south from Telluride, leaving at Society Turn, and passes Ophir and Trout Lake on the way to Lizard Head Pass at about 10,200 feet. The summit is high country of peaks and aspens, with Lizard Head Peak standing beside the road.

South of the pass the road drops along the Dolores River through Rico, then runs through the river canyon to Dolores. The drive is 61 miles and takes about 1 hr 15 min, with gentle curves all the way.

It is part of the San Juan Skyway, and it can be paired with the Dallas Divide drive in the other direction out of Telluride.

Along the way

  1. Telluride (Society Turn)
  2. Trout Lake
  3. Lizard Head Pass
  4. Rico
  5. Dolores
Elevation
3,000 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 10,300 ft
TellurideDolores
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
TellurideDolores
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • CDOT warns of summer afternoon thundershowers on the San Juan Skyway and says to ask about road conditions in winter.
  • Check COtrip before you go.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check CDOT COtrip.

Questions about this drive

How long does Lizard Head Pass take to drive?

Telluride to Dolores on Highway 145 over Lizard Head Pass is 61 miles and takes about 1 hr 15 min.

How high is Lizard Head Pass?

Lizard Head Pass is about 10,200 feet on Highway 145, between Telluride and Rico.

Is Lizard Head Pass part of the San Juan Skyway?

Yes. Highway 145 over Lizard Head Pass is part of the San Juan Skyway.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.

Download on theApp StoreEarly access onGoogle Play

More drives near here

All 42 drives in Colorado ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

+ Plan a new route
Map of Lizard Head Pass: Highway 145, from Telluride to Dolores