The range sits alongside many of the animal migration routes in the United States and contains several important passes, notably South Pass, , at the south end of the range, which was one of the more important passes on the Oregon Trail as it passed through the Rockies. Aside from South Pass, which is at the southernmost tip of the range, no roads cross the mountains until Union Pass, at the northern terminus of the range. There are many passes between tall peaks across the continental divide, which runs through the entire range.