La Veta Pass (more properly known as North La Veta Pass) bridges the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between the eastern plains and the San Luis Valley at an elevation of 9,413 feet. It lies 1.6 miles northeast of Old La Veta pass and is now accessed via Highway 160.
Old La Veta Pass was once the main trail route between the San Luis Valley and Walsenburg, first on the narrow-gauge Denver and Rio Grande Railway and later on a wagon road. Old La Veta Pass is now an unpaved and lightly traveled back road.