Union Pass

Union Pass
Elevation	9,212 ft (2,808 m)
Traversed by	Prehistoric
Location
Location	Fremont County, Wyoming, United States
Range	Wind River Range
Coordinates	43°28′53″N 109°52′36″W
Topo map	USGS Fish Creek Park (WY)

Union Pass
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	Wind River Range
Nearest city:	Dubois, Wyoming
Governing body:	National Forest Service
NRHP Reference#:	69000367
Added to NRHP:	April 4, 1969

Union Pass is a high mountain pass in the Wind River Range 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. 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.

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

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  Historical marker describing first crossings.

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  View of Union Pass

External links

• Union Pass at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office