The Redhorn Gate, also known as the Redhorn Pass, was a high and difficult pass over the central Misty Mountains that led from the wilds of Eriador to Rhovanion beyond. On the knees of the mountains a narrow path wound its way on the southern slope of Redhorn with a sheer wall of cliffs on the left and a deep ravine on the right. On the eastern side of the pass the Dimrill Stair, a deep-cloven path, descended steeply beside the Dimrill stream, which fell in a ladder of short waterfalls, down to the Dimrill Dale on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains. An ancient broad, well planned road led from Eregion into the hills towards the pass. No other passes led over the Misty Mountains south of the pass until they ended at the Gap of Rohan.
At the end of the Second Age during the War of the Last Alliance the main forces of the elven king Gil-galad with Isildur and a part of the forces of Arnor crossed the Misty Mountains from Eriador into Rhovanion over the Redhorn Pass and the Pass of Imladris.
In T.A. 1150 the pass was traversed by the Stoors migrating from the Vales of Anduin into Eriador, from where they headed to the Angle and Dunland.
In T.A. 2509 Celebrían, the wife of Elrond, was captured by Orcs of the Misty Mountains on the Redhorn Pass.
On 11 January - 12, T.A. 3019, the Fellowship of the Ring attempted to cross the Misty Mountains by the Redhorn Gate as they journeyed on the Quest of Mount Doom. They came into a fierce blizzard and could not go any further because of the deep snow. Thus were they defeated by the ill will of the mountain and were forced to cross under the Misty Mountains through the Mines of Moria.
On 13 September Celeborn, Galadriel and elves from Lórien parted from the remaining members of the Fellowship of the Ring in Eregion to cross over the Redhorn Gate to return to their own realm.
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