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1.(4880ft,mile00) START-END EAST: I70 exit in Crescent Junction 2.(5020ft,mile03) stay left at this fork 3.(5230ft,mile04) TOP: Thompson Pass 4.(5070ft,mile05) continue left down Floy Creek 5.(4580ft,mile12) START-END WEST ALTERNATE: profile continues left on marginally paved old US6 down to Green River. 6.(4050ft,mile25) START-END WEST: Green River crossing, just east of town of Green River

Approaches

From West. Thompson Pass diverts from the valley at Crescent Springs, not Thompson Springs, as the name may lead you to believe. Thompson Springs is also the historic rail stop for visitors disembarking for Arches National Park. The small town has a pleasant air of forgotten decay to it. Crescent Junction is a more recent ruin. Like other gas stations and road side stops, its date of death can be estimated by the sign displaying the price of gas most recently sold. This one reads $1.79. The route to Thompson Pass is just east of the "old" gas station on a gravel road labeled DOE site. The route to the pass diverts from the access road to the site on the left shortly afterwards. At the entrance to the cliffs it looks like the climb is about to start with a small warmup, as a few sinusoidal curves wind up to a gap. Surprise. That's the top already.

From East. The approach is described in a downward direction. The other side is even shorter. Ahead lies Floy Canyon. Following it downwards leads back to US6. Following US6 down to Green River adds another dimension to this ride. Practically devoid of cars, while hundreds of  them speed by on comfortably distant I70, this deteriorating highway gives a peaceful feeling to cycling, reminiscent of a time when highways had a closer relationship to the landscape. Rolling down this road into Green River in a slalom around pot holes, jumping over road cracks (Sept/06), an experience that lends itself to dreaming about Model Ts and Highwheelers.

Pleass note that US6 joins I70 where Thompson Pass heads into the Bookcliffs. This can only mean one thing. Thompson Pass is the route of old US6. It also means that riding Thompson Pass in a day loop requires either travelling on I70 or using other dirt roads south of I70, which are readily available.

Tours

Dayrides. 

A ride from Thompson Springs to Crescent Jct, over Thompson Pass, exploring a little ways up Floy Canyon, then down US6 about as far as the railroad crossing, then returning to the starting point via US6 and I70 measured 48 miles with 1770ft of climbing in 3.4 hours. (m3:06.09.09)

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