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:

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