Open: Guanella Pass for Memorial Day Weekend; CO 5 Mount Evans Road June 10

Guanella Pass (CR 381; CR 62) is OPEN
CO 5 Mount Evans Road remains closed and will not open for Memorial Day weekend due to recent snow and wind conditions.

Spring snowstorms delay opening of Mount Evans Highway this Memorial Day weekend

Travel Advisory
May 27, 2022 - Central/Eastern Colorado

Clear Creek County— Due to additional snowfall at Mount Evans, some as recently as this week, Mount Evans Highway (Colorado Highway 5) will not open to motorists for the Memorial Day weekend. The late spring snowfall has created unsafe conditions on the highway. Maintenance crews with the Colorado Department of Transportation will continue to conduct plowing operations on the roadway through next week, and information will be sent out when the highway is expected to safely open. All plowing operations are weather permitting.

CDOT crews have worked throughout the month of May clearing snow along the highway from the gates at Echo Lake Lodge to the summit of Mount Evans, which is the highest paved road in North America. The plowing process involves five different pieces of machinery to safely and efficiently clear the roadway of all snow and ice including a bulldozer, snow cat and snow blower. Late spring snowstorms and high winds this year have covered already plowed portions of the highway with more snow drifts, which is why the highway will not open yet.

Please note, once Mount Evans Highway does open, the USDA Forest Service is requiring motorists to Mount Evans Recreation Area to make reservations through Recreation.gov. Reservations are required if planning to park and visit one of the developed visitor locations at Mount Evans between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Reservations are not required for people who are biking or hiking up the roadway. All reservations for days the road doesn’t open due to weather or road conditions will be refunded automatically through Recreation.gov.

Know Before You Go
Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts, anticipated travel impacts, and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the FREE COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/3DYCDOH
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/3n9ZAI1
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone
The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!
The new FREE COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!

Mount Evans Highway opens for the 2022 season, reservations required
By: Stephanie Butzer, Denver Channel 7
Posted at 12:02 PM, Jun 10, 2022

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — The Mount Evans Highway up to the top of one of the most prominent mountains along the Front Range opened to the public for the 2022 season on Friday morning.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said the highway opened at 8 a.m. Friday. Reservations are required through Recreation.gov to drive up the mountain and park anywhere along the way. Hikers and bicyclists do not need to make a reservation.