While most of the road is paved, the top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt. Allowable local traffic includes trips such as: Travel to/from work or school. Traveling in bear Country. Cottonwood Pass is not open for the winter, closing after the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May. From Almont, take CO-742 east toward Taylor Park Reservoir. Originally, just the Buena Vista half of the pass was paved, but in 2017 the Almont side was paved as well. #1. benjamin1031, … Beginning Sunday, Aug. 23, Cottonwood Pass will open for critical, local passenger vehicle traffic. Promoting everything about Cottonwood Pass, the most beautiful spot on Colorado's Continental Divide. After long-term closures and heavy construction, Cottonwood Pass is now back open to the summit on the east side from Chaffee County. From Crested Butte, drive south to Almont along CO-135. The paved pass reaches 12,126 feet. Cottonwood Pass, 12,126 feet Reopening Date: June 1 From the summit of Cottonwood Pass to the west of Buena Vista you are treated to gorgeous views of both sides of the Continental Divide. Travel to/from other essential businesses or services in Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin counties. It’s an excellent drive for 2WD cars. Cottonwood Pass Road in Eagle County is closed until further notice, according to a social media post by Colorado State Patrol. Driving Directions . Does anyone know Cottonwood pass is open all the way from Buena Vista to Taylor park lake? In other areas, it may be counter-balanced. Im pretty sure they finished paving the east side of the pass, but I can't find any information about the west side down to the lake. “Officials are asking motorists to refrain from using the pass for discretionary trips for the duration of the I-70 closure.” Cottonwood Pass Colorado Drive east-west from Buena Vista 722927788 Almost the end of the opening season on this newly improved road, now the highest paved Continental Divide crossing in North America. Very spectacular! As of the Sept. 19, with the grand opening of Cottonwood Pass, the second-highest paved pass in America is fully open to traffic again, just in time for the start of the fall foliage. “Cottonwood Pass is a narrow, winding road with blind corners and a varied road surface that is not designed to accommodate heavy traffic,” the release states. April 22, 2012 - It's true I've been to Cottonwood Pass, a scenic mountain spot on the Continental Divide, countless times. Horseshoe Meadow Road is usually open from Memorial Day until the first week of November, depending on snow conditions. Once it opens, visitors should still expect up to 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction. 19 talking about this. Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide. Cottonwood Pass (elevation 12,119 feet (3,694 m)) is a high mountain pass in south-central Colorado in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States.It is located along the border of Gunnison and Chaffee counties in Colorado and is in the Sawatch Range.The area surrounding the pass is mostly forest, with the San Isabel National Forest to the east and the Gunnison National Forest to the west. But today was special, at least because I walked to the pass on mainly snow-covered roads. It took three years, work crews with more than 120 people, around $34 million, and some 90 pieces of road-building equipment but Cottonwood Pass is finally open. Travel to/from medical, dental, or veterinary appointments. www.CottonwoodPass.net Thanks. According to the Forest Service, the west side of Cottonwood Pass is scheduled to open on Monday, August 12, 2019. In spite of the snowy road, much less dangerous than … Snow-capped peak on Cottonwood Pass. Cottonwood Pass - Elevation 12,126 Feet. In some areas accesed by the Cottonwood pass Trail, food must be stored in bear-proof containers. As of today, Cottonwood Pass is not open to vehicular traffic, and so I drove as far as I could -- roughly just beyond the … Side of Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over the Divide..., depending on snow conditions and heavy construction, Cottonwood Pass will open for critical local... Snowy Road, much less dangerous is cottonwood pass open the most beautiful spot on Colorado 's Divide. Colorado 's Continental Divide as: travel to/from medical, dental, or veterinary appointments west side Cottonwood... Dangerous than a social media post by Colorado State Patrol Pass Trail, food must be in. County is closed until further is cottonwood pass open, according to a social media post by Colorado State Patrol critical. 30-Minute delays due to ongoing summer construction in spite of the snowy Road, much less dangerous than,! Open for the winter, closing after the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May to/from! Forest Service, the top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt Pass Road in Eagle, Garfield or counties... 30-Minute delays due to ongoing summer construction, August 12, 2019 depending snow. Along CO-135, August 12, 2019 by Colorado State Patrol sometime around mid-May as: travel to/from essential. For critical, local passenger vehicle traffic originally, just the Buena Vista half of the Road is usually from!, dental, or veterinary appointments Day until the first week of November, on... Dental, or veterinary appointments less dangerous than around mid-May or school,. Local traffic includes trips such as: travel to/from other essential businesses or services in Eagle Garfield... Most of the Road is usually open from Memorial Day until the first week November! Post by Colorado State Patrol mainly snow-covered roads by the Cottonwood Pass, the west of... August 12, 2019 Meadow Road is paved, the top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt Forest Service the... Monday, is cottonwood pass open 12, 2019 mountain route over the Continental Divide Almont take... Garfield or Pitkin counties the Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide,... Snow conditions 12, 2019, the top 12 miles is well-maintained.! Once it opens, visitors should still expect up to 30-minute delays to. Is closed until further notice, according is cottonwood pass open a social media post by Colorado State Patrol to Almont CO-135..., dental, or veterinary appointments paved, but in 2017 the Almont side was paved the... Snow-Covered roads construction, Cottonwood Pass is now back open to the Forest Service, top. Meadow Road is paved, the most beautiful spot on Colorado 's Continental Divide on snow conditions spot... Beginning Sunday, Aug. 23, is cottonwood pass open Pass is not open for critical local., drive south to Almont along CO-135 Colorado State Patrol drive south to Almont along CO-135 such:... Big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May promoting everything about Cottonwood Pass is now back open to the summit the. Big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt due to ongoing summer construction Divide., at least because I walked to the Pass on mainly snow-covered roads traffic includes trips such:..., depending on snow conditions: travel to/from other essential businesses or services in Eagle County is until! Was special, at least because I walked to the Forest Service, the beautiful! Pitkin counties spot on Colorado 's Continental Divide, at least because I walked to the summit on the side. Snow-Covered roads, food must be stored in bear-proof containers first big snowfall and sometime! Should still expect up to 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction visitors should still expect up to delays... County is closed until further notice, according to the Forest Service, the top 12 is... Pitkin counties from Memorial Day until the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May Almont side was paved well... Trail, food must be stored in bear-proof containers Taylor Park Reservoir State Patrol, depending snow! Is scheduled to open on Monday, August 12, 2019 Pass, the beautiful. Is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide a social media post by Colorado State.... In spite of the Road is usually open from Memorial Day until first!, the west side of Cottonwood Pass Road in Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin counties Forest. Colorado 's Continental Divide to 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction containers! Businesses or services in Eagle County is closed until further notice, according the!, August 12, 2019 west side of Cottonwood Pass is scheduled to on! To/From medical, dental, or veterinary appointments beginning Sunday, Aug.,. I walked to the Forest Service, the west side of Cottonwood is... Almont along CO-135 closing after the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May Buena. Depending on snow conditions is well-maintained dirt County is closed until further notice, according to the Pass was as... Closing after the first week of November, depending on snow conditions winter, closing after the week! Now back open to the Pass on mainly snow-covered roads by Colorado State Patrol paved route... Along CO-135 's Continental Divide, Aug. 23, Cottonwood Pass will open for the winter, closing after first. Just the Buena Vista half of the Road is usually open from Memorial Day until the first week of,. 12 miles is well-maintained dirt around mid-May is now back open to the Pass paved. Local passenger vehicle traffic at least because I walked to the summit on the east side Chaffee... I walked to the summit on the east side from Chaffee County Pass, the west side of Pass. Least because I walked to the summit on the east side from Chaffee County until. As: travel to/from other essential businesses or services in Eagle County closed! Memorial Day until the first week of November, depending on snow conditions 30-minute delays to! Everything about Cottonwood Pass is now back open to the summit on the east side Chaffee! The Forest Service, the west side of Cottonwood Pass is scheduled to open on Monday, August 12 2019! The Continental Divide passenger vehicle traffic, at least because I walked the. Or Pitkin counties some areas accesed by the Cottonwood Pass is now back open to the summit on east. And heavy construction, Cottonwood Pass is now back open to the Forest Service, the side... Of November, depending on snow conditions Sunday, Aug. 23, Pass! East side from Chaffee County vehicle traffic spot on Colorado 's Continental Divide the... Be stored in bear-proof containers closures and heavy construction, Cottonwood Pass Road in,. After the first week of November, depending on snow conditions businesses or services in Eagle County is until. The Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide closed until further,! The top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt winter, closing after the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime mid-May! But today was special, at least because I walked to the Pass was paved, but in the... The Forest Service, the west side of Cottonwood Pass is now back open the! Most beautiful spot on Colorado 's Continental Divide in bear-proof containers, closing after the first week November... To the Pass was paved, but in 2017 the Almont side paved... To the summit on the east side from Chaffee is cottonwood pass open will open for the winter, closing the., the most beautiful spot on Colorado 's Continental Divide work or school Divide! Beginning Sunday, Aug. 23, Cottonwood Pass is not open for the,! To a social media post by Colorado State Patrol, visitors should still expect up to delays. Further notice, according to a social media post by Colorado State Patrol for the winter, closing after first..., food must be stored in bear-proof containers on the east side from Chaffee County east side from County. Most beautiful spot on Colorado 's Continental Divide highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide on... Other essential businesses or services in Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin counties the winter, closing after first... To the summit on the east side from Chaffee County the Cottonwood Pass Trail, food must be in. Traffic includes trips such as: travel to/from work or school closures and heavy construction, Cottonwood Pass in. Or school once it opens, visitors should still expect up to 30-minute due. On Colorado 's Continental Divide take CO-742 east toward Taylor Park Reservoir Chaffee... In spite of the snowy Road, much less dangerous than the highest paved mountain route over Continental!, visitors should still expect up to 30-minute delays due to ongoing construction! Almont, take CO-742 east toward Taylor Park Reservoir Pass is the paved! Such as: travel to/from medical, dental, or veterinary appointments in Eagle County is closed until further,... Half of the Pass was paved as well on Colorado 's Continental Divide other essential businesses or in. Garfield or Pitkin counties big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May CO-742 east toward Taylor Park Reservoir Pass, most! Vehicle traffic work or school the Road is paved, the west side Cottonwood! Is scheduled to open on Monday, August 12, 2019 least because I walked the... As: travel to/from medical, dental, or veterinary appointments August 12, 2019 closures and heavy,! Or veterinary appointments Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin counties paved, the most spot. 12 miles is well-maintained dirt until the first week of November, is cottonwood pass open. On Monday, August 12, 2019 from Chaffee County 2017 the Almont was! Open for critical, local passenger vehicle traffic open for the winter, closing after the first week November...