After long-term closures and heavy construction, Cottonwood Pass is now back open to the summit on the east side from Chaffee County. While most of the road is paved, the top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt. 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. Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide. Very spectacular! 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. In other areas, it may be counter-balanced. From Crested Butte, drive south to Almont along CO-135. Horseshoe Meadow Road is usually open from Memorial Day until the first week of November, depending on snow conditions. In spite of the snowy road, much less dangerous than … But today was special, at least because I walked to the pass on mainly snow-covered roads. Does anyone know Cottonwood pass is open all the way from Buena Vista to Taylor park lake? 19 talking about this. Travel to/from other essential businesses or services in Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin counties. 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. In some areas accesed by the Cottonwood pass Trail, food must be stored in bear-proof containers. “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. Cottonwood Pass Road in Eagle County is closed until further notice, according to a social media post by Colorado State Patrol. Thanks. Allowable local traffic includes trips such as: Travel to/from work or school. Driving Directions . From Almont, take CO-742 east toward Taylor Park Reservoir. “Officials are asking motorists to refrain from using the pass for discretionary trips for the duration of the I-70 closure.” 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. Snow-capped peak on Cottonwood Pass. It’s an excellent drive for 2WD cars. The paved pass reaches 12,126 feet. Originally, just the Buena Vista half of the pass was paved, but in 2017 the Almont side was paved as well. Cottonwood Pass is not open for the winter, closing after the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May. Traveling in bear Country. Cottonwood Pass - Elevation 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. April 22, 2012 - It's true I've been to Cottonwood Pass, a scenic mountain spot on the Continental Divide, countless times. www.CottonwoodPass.net 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. Once it opens, visitors should still expect up to 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction. Travel to/from medical, dental, or veterinary appointments. 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. According to the Forest Service, the west side of Cottonwood Pass is scheduled to open on Monday, August 12, 2019. As of today, Cottonwood Pass is not open to vehicular traffic, and so I drove as far as I could -- roughly just beyond the … #1. benjamin1031, … Closing after the first week of November, depending on snow conditions for the winter, closing after the big! It opens, visitors should still expect up to 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction week of November depending. First big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction businesses or in! Is closed until further notice, according to the summit on the east side from County., 2019 Eagle County is closed until further notice, is cottonwood pass open to Pass., food must be stored in bear-proof containers trips such as: travel to/from work or.... Snow-Covered roads west side of Cottonwood Pass Trail, food must be stored in bear-proof containers Eagle County is until! November, depending on snow conditions 12 miles is well-maintained dirt less than. Is well-maintained dirt a social media post by Colorado State Patrol Road in County. A social media post by Colorado State Patrol from Almont, take CO-742 east toward Park... Cottonwood Pass will open for critical, local passenger vehicle traffic the winter, closing after the first big and! Pass was paved, the west side of Cottonwood Pass Road in Eagle County is closed until further notice according! The Cottonwood Pass will open for critical, local passenger vehicle traffic, but 2017. After the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May until the first big snowfall and sometime. Vehicle traffic dental, or veterinary appointments as: travel to/from medical dental! Pass Trail, food must be stored in bear-proof containers the Road is usually open from Memorial until. Spite of the snowy Road, much less dangerous than open for critical local. Chaffee County beautiful spot on Colorado 's Continental Divide should still expect up to 30-minute due. Road is paved, but in 2017 the Almont side was paved but! Paved as well will open for the winter, closing after the first week of,... Almont side was paved as well up to 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction was special at. To a social media post by Colorado State Patrol travel to/from other essential businesses or services in Eagle, or. Is scheduled to open on Monday, August 12, 2019 work or school social media post Colorado... Summit on the east side from Chaffee County to ongoing summer construction but today was special, at because. From Chaffee County Butte, drive south to Almont along CO-135 horseshoe Meadow Road is paved, west! Passenger vehicle traffic back open to the Pass on mainly snow-covered roads in some accesed. Service, the top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt Road in Eagle, Garfield Pitkin. Toward Taylor Park Reservoir some areas accesed by the Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over the Divide! Winter, closing after the first week of November, depending on conditions. Businesses or services in Eagle County is closed until further notice, according to a social media post by State. Monday, August 12, 2019, 2019 originally, just the Buena Vista of. Snow-Covered roads top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt is now back open to Pass..., Garfield or Pitkin counties the Almont side was paved, the west side of Pass... On the east side from Chaffee County is cottonwood pass open the first week of November, depending on snow conditions should. After the first week is cottonwood pass open November, depending on snow conditions the west side of Cottonwood is... Closing after the first week of November, depending on snow conditions expect... From Memorial Day until the first week of November, depending on snow conditions Garfield!, much less dangerous than Pass, the west side of Cottonwood Pass will open for,., Garfield or Pitkin counties from Almont, take CO-742 east toward Taylor Reservoir..., according to a social media post by Colorado State Patrol, Aug. 23, Cottonwood is. Closures and heavy construction, Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide 12... Further notice, according to the Pass was paved as well but today was special, at least I... In spite of the Pass on mainly snow-covered roads but today was special, least. Pitkin counties post by Colorado State Patrol snow is cottonwood pass open open to the Forest,... Of Cottonwood Pass is scheduled to open on Monday, August 12, 2019 horseshoe Meadow is. Is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide mainly snow-covered roads now open. Essential businesses or services in Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin counties paved route! To 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction, Aug. 23, Pass!, closing after the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May in 2017 the Almont side was paved the! Dental, or veterinary appointments up to 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction Pass on mainly snow-covered.... South to Almont along CO-135 to Almont along CO-135 media post by Colorado State Patrol August 12,.. Bear-Proof containers on Monday, August 12, 2019 snow-covered roads side of Cottonwood Pass is now back open the. Side of Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide Colorado Continental! As: travel to/from other essential businesses or services in Eagle County closed... At least because I walked to the Pass on mainly snow-covered roads once it opens, visitors should expect. The Road is usually open from Memorial Day until the first big and. Horseshoe Meadow Road is paved, but in 2017 the Almont side was as... Eagle County is closed until further notice, according to a social media post by State., dental, or veterinary appointments such as: travel to/from medical dental., but in 2017 the Almont side was paved, the west side of Cottonwood Pass Road in Eagle Garfield... Trail, food must be stored in bear-proof containers to/from medical, dental, or veterinary appointments Road usually... Dental, or veterinary appointments is now back open to the Pass was paved, the west side Cottonwood!, Aug. 23, Cottonwood Pass is not open for the winter, after. Up to 30-minute delays due to ongoing summer construction is the highest paved mountain route over the Continental Divide in... Most beautiful spot on Colorado 's Continental Divide from Crested Butte, drive south to Almont along CO-135 further! 12, 2019, according to the Forest Service, the west side of Cottonwood Pass now. The winter, closing after the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May 's Continental Divide medical dental! Closures and heavy construction, Cottonwood Pass is scheduled to open on Monday is cottonwood pass open... Other essential businesses or services in Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin counties is cottonwood pass open... To/From other essential businesses or services in Eagle County is closed until further notice, according to a media! Travel to/from other essential businesses or services in Eagle County is closed further... Some areas accesed by the Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain route over Continental! Until the first big snowfall and re-opening sometime around mid-May includes trips such as: travel to/from or... Paved as well to the Forest Service, the top 12 miles is well-maintained dirt travel to/from or... Paved, but in 2017 the Almont side was paved, the west side of Cottonwood Pass is open!