Its a beautiful drive but take it slow as there are many hairpin turns and typically a decent amount of traffic during busy seasons. They close it in the winter if the conditions are bad, but in the summer it's a breeze. Starting from the Idaho Springs Visitor Center just off of I-70, the Byway takes you straight to the top of Mount Evans, no hiking required. , Interstate 70 is one of the major highways in the United States. 3D WALKTHROUGH. There were 3 main sites threatening Loveland Pass and I-70, each had their own particularities: the 7 Sisters on Loveland Pass, the West Portal Loop road located close to the Eisenhower tunnel on I-70, and Vail Narrows on I-70 Vail Pass which consists mainly of banks. Only have a short window of time to travel? Living in the Rockies, its hard to find a good sunscreen that actually lasts and avoids gnarly burns, and our family swears by these, especially when visiting places with virtually no tree cover, like Loveland Pass. The amount of traffic isnt extremely high, but the road conditions and ease of driving is significantly higher on small mountain roads that wind deep into the Rocky Mountains. Our team is eclectic but also comprised of many Colorado and Denver locals, so we are closely familiar with roads and highways throughout the state, and how dangerous some of them can be. An avalanche has closed Loveland Pass. Set high in the Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado, it's one of the highest roads of Colorado. Stretching from Utah, through Colorado and all the way out to Maryland, I-70 is a famous interstate highway that is widely used every day for local and interstate travel. The most infamous highway in this area is arguably C-470, or State Highway 470, which has so many accidents and delays that CBS Denvers website has an entire section of news reports dedicated to it. On site visits from roads and aerial pictures using And if you have even more time to spare, you definitely have to drive up to the top of Mount Evans. Example video title will go here for this video. Its a spot thats perfect for advanced adventurers and newbies alike. From Loveland to the north to Colorado Springs to the south, you can find most of the four-million-odd drivers in the state in this region. Thousands of drivers use this highway every day to commute between Denver, Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Pueblo and more make rush hour a very dangerous time to be on I-25 with numerous car accidents happening every single day. Denvers massive population throughout the metro area means tons of rush hour traffic every single day across the city. Background [ edit] It is located on the Continental Divide in the Front Range, west of Denver on U.S. Highway 6 (US 6). The first two summits you mention as 12,000 are more like 13,000. There will be even snow until late April/June. For the best fall colors experience, Indy Pass outside of Aspenis a must visit. At the very least, make sure to stop at the Loveland Pass overlook at the continental divide. Because the area is prone to heavy winter snowfall as stated by dangerousroads, storms are very frequent which can make driving along Monarch Pass curvy roads and steep drop-offs risky if one is not prepared for them. Contact us todayto learn how our local team of attorneys can assist you. And this is even more pronounced on snowy weekends. The snow conditions might seem stable, until theyre not. Like we mentioned earlier, its not known as an aspen-heavy area, and youll mostly just see browning tundra and some shrubbery that changes to autumnal oranges and reds for the season. Apr 23 - Apr 24. Loveland pass is about 11,990. Its not snow sport friendly, but its also not hiking friendly, either. We have compiled a list of all of Colorados most dangerous roads to drive, from heavy traffic areas to medium and low traffic roads that have proven to be very treacherous for many drivers through the years. The road varies from long and winding to tight turns at very slow speeds. . Its an easy stroll-like hike, but you get great bank for your buck, with three little lakes making an appearance on the route. With over 120 webcams produced in 2021. 9,426 ft ~ Pikes Peak Highway. Even in clear weather it can still be one of the most dangerous roads in Colorado. SOLD FEB 21, 2023. There is a steep grade section 12.1 miles east of the summit, before the grade flattens in the area of Georgetown (the 228 milepost). LP is not really a hub for aspen trees, so you mostly see drying out alpine grasses and shrubbery. This section of road goes through 3 mountain passes, all with elevations exceeding 10,000 ft with very tight turns and usually boasting snow/ice covered roads. This was unpleasant and the driving rain didn't improve the situation. Its also a very time sensitive call," said Smith. Would love your thoughts, please comment. To get to the mountain town of Gunnison, one has to drive over Monarch Pass. At the top of Loveland pass is a trailhead that will lead you to several hiking routes. Add cell phones, coffee, food, passengers and more to that and you have a perfect recipe for numerous car accidents every day, at all times of the year. I've always wanted to do this but know it can be dangerous and that there were some backcounty experts killed in an avalanche several years ago. "It sets a dangerous precedent." Sullivan hopes the BOCC takes the council's words to heart if the resolution passes. If you're traveling from Denver, you'll take i70 westbound and exit 216 to get on the pass. Why stop at just one mountain pass? The trail itself has virtually no elevation gain (68 feet) and clocks in at 0.8 miles. Loveland Pass's proximity to the urban Front Range and Summit County attracts backcountry skiers and snowboarders from both sides of the Continental Divide at 11,990 ft above sea level. 13,207 ft ~ Loveland Pass - Highway 6. US 6 Loveland Pass will remain throughout the day closed due to high winds and blowing snow. Even with crowds and traffic, though, Loveland Pass is iconic for a reason. The news was released this past Thursday. We want your experiences too! At the Loveland Pass parking lot, visitors can access trails to the summits of Mount Sniktau and other nearby mountain peaks.[5][6]. . jacksonr - Sep 29, 2002 9:00 am - Hasn't voted. Aim to arrive before sunrise (and ideally on a weekday) to snag a spot. The road is considered to be one of the most dangerous mountain roads in the world due to the gradient and the constant 69 hairpin turns. Theres a high risk of avalanches near the summit. $228,000 Last Sold Price. State Patrol spokesman Colin Remillard said that while sending hazmat trucks up Loveland Pass is far from ideal, it can keep truckers hauling dangerous cargo on their toes. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! Loveland Ski Area is located north west of the pass, and Arapahoe Basin is on the south/southeast side. US Highway 6. In terms of our favorite towns for autumn, Telluride is always a no-brainer. While its certainly on the shorter end, this pass really packs a punch in a short distance, with scenic (and sometimes scary) switchbacks lining the routes up and down the mountain. Loveland Pass Colorado tops out at the continental divide at an elevation of 11,990 feet, with gorgeous views of the mountains and i70 down below. Wrecks happen frequently through this area and lots of people get stuck so make sure to check live traffic data before taking this detour. The scariest parts of Loveland Pass Colorado are above tree line, at elevations higher than 11,000 ft. Not only do you not have trees blocking the steep drop-offs, but the high alpine conditions make this section of road particularly susceptible to dangerous weather conditions, including heavy snow and high winds. Listed below are six particular roads which are known for their many dangers and unpredictable elements. Traveling is fun, no matter if you stay in a luxury hotel or travel like a backpacker. Peter shares his experiences on his Blog www.gatetoadventures.com This road goes north and south across the entire state of Colorado with a typical speed limit of 75 mph(except in some areas) that allows you to move quickly across the front range. A few of the more dangerous and notorious roads in Colorado are: If youre ever in a car accident in Colorado that was not your fault, then know that Jorgensen, Brownell & Pepin, P.C. Even in clear weather it can still be one of the most dangerous roads in Colorado. The last word I'd use thinking about Loveland Pass is "dangerous." It's a perfectly good, wide, well maintained, road. During the winter seasons, these areas are used to store snow. Loveland Pass is one of those scenic Colorado mountain pass drives that make this exploration easy. Pro Tip:Getting sunburned when youre above tree line is super common. The pass can be very treacherous but very beautiful also if you allow yourself to take your eyes off the road for 1 or 2 seconds at a time. We love the idea of making your drive up Loveland Pass a part of a bigger trip. Exposure: Southeast. But its a bit easier and shorter than Sniktau. In the event of less serious winter storms, chain restrictions are often imposed. It is not only the highest mountain pass to regularly stay open, but also one of the highest mountain roads in the entire state of Colorado (dangerousroads). I recommend you to take the bypass instead of the tunnel if you have some time to spare. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Resting between Ouray and Silverton, it has not only twisty lanes but also very steep drop-offs with only guardrails to keep one from driving off the edge. So while, yes, you can technically drive the entirety of Loveland Pass in less than an hour, youre missing so much by doing so. This spot is our favorite at sunrise and sunset. These range from checking the weather conditions beforehand and making sure ones driving skills are competent enough for such a journey. Trucks that cannot pass through the tunnel (those carrying hazardous materials and those over 13feet 11inches (4.24m) in height) must still take US 6 across Loveland Pass, 800 vertical feet (240m) above the tunnel. For this reason, its an incredibly risky pass to take due to heavy snowfall that can make driving difficult in addition to avalanches and the lack of oxygen further up. The twisty road is considered to be especially treacherous during the winter months. Being acclimated to the elevation will be crucial (both in terms of your endurance and avoidance of altitude sickness). And some are definitely better than others, particularly when youre planning to adventure on mountain roads like Loveland Pass. , storms are very frequent which can make driving along Monarch Pass curvy roads and steep drop-offs risky if one is not prepared for them. This is the sunscreen we use for our faces(we love that it doesnt leave a chalky residue or clog pores), and this is the sweat-resistant one we use everywhere else. https://islovelandpassopen.com. This is definitely the most scenic time to drive Loveland Pass Colorado and hike this trail. Winter Park is a small ski mountain just outside of Denver that many residents travel to quite frequently. And given its a major route for semi trucks that cannot travel through the Eisenhower Tunnel, it is very well maintained year round. Other heavily trafficked sections across the downtown and Denver metro area are very congested at rush hour times and usually still busy late into the night so be sure to use caution. The conditions on this pass include dangers such as rock slides and avalanches depending on the time of year. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app, DPS Board of Education hears first public comment since East High shooting, Authorities warn of dangerous avalanche conditions ahead of MLK Day weekend, 2 snowmobilers killed in avalanche identified, 2 snowmobilers killed in avalanche near Winter Park. Even if you typically dont burn easily, the elevation on Loveland Pass, and in Colorado in general, makes sunburns more common. CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. Two avalanches triggered by skiers within a matter of minutes of each other shut down Loveland Pass Thursday afternoon. For those that want to drive through Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road is your path through during summer, taking you from Estes Park all the way around to Grand Lake. per night. Loveland Pass Ski Area boasts 1,800 acres of skiing terrain and offers an innovative ski lesson program, as well as more snow than any other Summit County or Front Range resort. Get real-time Loveland Pass road conditions and status on US-6 between Loveland Ski Resort and Keystone Ski Resort including Arapahohe Basin Ski Resort. It is located on the Continental Divide in the Front Range, west of Denver on U.S. Highway 6 (US 6). This can lead to some slowdowns on the road as you have to follow a truck up or down the mountain pass on the single-lane road. He also works as the Public Information Officer with the Mountain Rescue Association. 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