Ute and Arapaho Indian Tribes were among the first known users of Georgia Pass. Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the route became popular among European explorers, prospectors, and trappers.
Before Colorado officially became a territory, Georgia Pass bordered the territories of Kansas and Utah. The original trail was designed so that wagons could pass through when going to and from the area’s many mining towns. A toll road was officially established in 1861.