South Pass (Wyoming)

South Pass
Historic South Pass, seen from the east looking westward towards Pacific Springs
Elevation	7,412 ft (2,259 m)
Traversed by	Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Mormon Trail, Wyoming Highway 28
Location	Fremont County, Wyoming United States
Range	Wind River Range and Antelope Hills (Radium Springs, Wyoming)
Coordinates	42°22′12″N 108°54′49″W / 42.37000°N 108.91361°W / 42.37000; -108.91361
Topo map	USGS Pacific Springs
South Pass
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Map of southwestern Wyoming showing location of South Pass at the headwaters of the Sweetwater River
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Nearest city	South Pass City, Wyoming
NRHP reference No.	66000754
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966[1]
Designated NHL	January 20, 1961[2]

South Pass (elevation 7,412 ft (2,259 m) and 7,550 ft (2,300 m)) is a route across the Continental Divide, in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Wyoming. It lies in a broad high region, 35 miles (56 km) wide, between the nearly 14,000 ft (4,300 m) Wind River Range to the north and the over 8,500 ft (2,600 m) Oregon Buttes^[3] and arid, saline near-impassable Great Divide Basin to the south. The Pass lies in southwestern Fremont County, approximately 35 miles (56 km) SSW of Lander.

Though it approaches a mile and a half high, South Pass is the lowest point on the Continental Divide between the Central and Southern Rocky Mountains. The passes furnish a natural crossing point of the Rockies. The historic pass became the route for emigrants on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails to the West during the 19th century. It was designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961.