2 Baths. That combined with such varying terrain is a recipe for disaster and should be driven with caution. It is most definitely one of the most dangerous roads in Colorado. FedE, Aurora Borealis aka "Northern Lights" in Fairbanks, Road Trip on the Highest Paved Road in North America - Gate to Adventures, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Loveland pass is about 11,990. All of those drivers condensed in one area can make for some pretty busy and dangerous roads. Can any of you guys comment on the safety aspect of Loveland Pass? Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. In terms of our favorite towns for autumn, Telluride is always a no-brainer. If youre traveling with a large group, this cabin style mountain home in Silverthorne is an awesome choice. 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. Do I Have To Pay A Red Light Camera Ticket? Autumn on Loveland Pass Colorado isnt bad, but it isnt a huge fall colors spot. Contact us for questions or a consultation. RENTALS & LESSONS. Take a detour from the busy I-70 interstate and take the scenic route over Loveland Pass. He also works as the Public Information Officer with the Mountain Rescue Association. YVR - YCD If you are looking for a nearby small mountain to ski in the winter that is close to the southern cities like Pueblo and Colorado Springs, Monarch Mountain is a popular destination. Some notable features would be the one-way narrow tunnels through the mountains and the bright red curved bridge you go over. According to Greene, early-season avalanches typically do not contain enough snowpack to bury anyone caught in it. However, the road is subject to frequent temporary closure during bad weather conditions and commonly, chain restrictions are imposed. On site visits from roads and aerial pictures using If you're traveling from Denver, you'll take i70 westbound and exit 216 to get on the pass. Dropping Northeast off the top of the pass is the standard run, along with the area to the skier's right of the parking lot, also on the Northeast Side. Million Dollar Highway: The name of the Million Dollar Highway makes it seem like it will be a luxurious drive that is safe in any condition. It's dangerous in a variety of ways." Additionally, Loveland Pass is a . 14,160 ft ~ Argentine Pass. And the fact that its accessible year round makes it perfect for those days when youre missing the high alpine in the dead of winter and so many other roads are closed. Loveland Pass is on a paved road accessible to all passenger vehicles. 13,114 ft ~ Mount Evans Scenic Byway. The first lake is Pass Lake, the second (which is our favorite) is Lake Kaz, and the third is more of an unnamed pond. Those coming from lower elevations may find this to be a more challenging route, otherwise. Free with trial. The tunnel is boring (literally) as there is no way to stop there (legally) and take pictures or tour the tunnel on foot. A little over 4 miles of driving will get you to the continental divide (at 11,990 feet elevation). 1,302 Sq. Free with trial. If youre traveling to Loveland Pass from the west (e.g., Vail, Colorado), then you can exit 205 off i70 and then keep right to get on US 6. That said, its worth noting that this section of Loveland Pass is quite high in elevation, and the hike starts at nearly 12,000 ft above sea level. As you follow the road you will climb up to the summit of Loveland Pass which is at 11,990 ft above sea level. As locals who live on the Front Range, weve been to Loveland Pass more times than we can count and have seen it in every season. The pass is well known for its treacherous winter conditions and features many, many switchbacks with no guardrails. The warnings of dangerous avalanche conditions arent keeping people out of the backcountry and rescue teams fear the holiday weekend could be deadly. Generally considered a challenging route. Colorado mountains covered with snow. Going through this part is a necessity if you want to make it to all of Colorados famous ski resorts. Arrows mark known and obvious possible avalanche path, red solid line outlines 2013 avalanche, red dots are group's approximate route. Youre basically hiking up a ridge and youre rewarded with expansive mountain views all around. https://islovelandpassopen.com. At Rector Stuzynski LLC, we have decades of experience helping car crash victims get back to their normal lives and we pride ourselves in helping our fellow neighbors, so give us a call for a free consultation any time at (719) 578-1106. Lower Gear Requirement. While it may not be as high as Loveland Pass, Red Mountain Pass is arguably more treacherous. It is most definitely one of the most dangerous roads in Colorado. So traffic jams and bad weather make this particular stretch dangerous, along with unpredictable elements like avalanches. Then he decided to go back up and ride it as the search and rescue teams were up here and he triggered another avalanche right in front of all the ski patrol and everything.". Is the road to Loveland Pass paved? The LRT's downtown tunnel will be partially closed for the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May while crews assess the extent of repairs needed to prevent water leakage, OC Transpo says. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and dangerous drop offs. We cover everything you should keep in mind in ourguide to the best time windows to travel in the Rockies. The views from 14,000 feet above sea-level are just stunning. 9,500 ft ~ Coal Bank Pass. 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. Its a difficult drive as the road hits an 11% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. These range from checking the weather conditions beforehand and making sure ones driving skills are competent enough for such a journey. We want your experiences too! There are gorgeous sweeping views looking down on the valley where i70 runs through, a couple thousand feet below. [4] When the Eisenhower Tunnel opened in March 1973, it allowed motorists on Interstate 70 (I-70) to avoid crossing the pass directly. Extreme Road for Truck Drivers. While it does include several twists and turns, there arent as many sharp cliff edges. 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. Have you taken Loveland Pass? 14,160 ft ~ Argentine Pass. Ahh, the dreaded I-25 corridor. Apr 23 - Apr 24. Transportation Collection. over and wander around for a beautiful view of snow capped mountains and fresh air, 11,990 feet about sea level. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! In fact, my first hike in this state was from Loveland Pass to nearby Mount Sniktau. Its a great location duringsummer and winter. The snow conditions might seem stable, until theyre not. October 9, 2022. Its a beautiful drive but take it slow as there are many hairpin turns and typically a decent amount of traffic during busy seasons. 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. They close it in the winter if the conditions are bad, but in the summer it's a breeze. While the landscape is certainly breathtaking with its mountain ranges and shimmering blue lakes, this pass does have its dangers. Despite the risks involved with these dangerous roads, they can be safe to drive on as long as the right precautions are taken. Loveland Pass current road conditions. There are no services at the summit, and a long descent on the main road. SOLD FEB 21, 2023. We serve clients charged with crimes or injured anywhere throughout the state of Colorado, but we focus on residents of these areas: Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Briargate, Monument, Black Forest, Pueblo, Canon City, Larkspur, Security-Widefield, Peyton, Castle Rock, Teller County, El Paso County, Elbert County, Park County, Douglas County and beyond. Its not a good move.". Youll want to bring along snowshoes if you plan to do any hiking, as spots like Loveland Pass Lake have snow several feet deep in winter. It is located on the Continental Divide in the Front Range, west of Denver on U.S. Highway 6 (US 6). Where is the Loveland Pass located? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Again, accessibility during the winter season is very limited but its a beautiful place during the rest of the year when you can access the whole lake area. This historic mountain byway is called the Gold Belt Scenic Byway and is an incredible sight, ranging from mountains to red canyons and connecting numerous towns like Canon City, Florence, Cripple Creek and Florissant. As rescue crews responded to one avalanche, a different skier set off another in a spot most know to stay away from. To get to the mountain town of Gunnison, one has to drive over Monarch Pass. The road varies from long and winding to tight turns at very slow speeds. 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. Did you know that there is a lake up there? Period. Its not snow sport friendly, but its also not hiking friendly, either. Loveland Pass CO 39.68N 105.88W (Elev. It would be abandoned in 1906 and then restored for vehicle use in 1920 by the U.S. Forest Service.[3]. Map Directions Satellite Photo Map Wikipedia Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0. Notable Places in the Area Arapahoe Basin Photo: Uni3d, CC BY-SA 3.0. Those two cities are located right along i70, making them super accessible for anyone traveling from the airport. We provide some advice on how to deal with this later. Our guide to all the benefits and drawbacks of living in CO covers everything you need to know. Travel time on this road is about 30 minutes if you drive straight through without stopping, which you actually should do to maximize this detour. Disclaimer: The backcountry is always dangerous. 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. "Your only sign that a slope is about to slide might be that it rips out underneath you.". The worst season? By using this site and the information contained herein, you're agreeing to use common sense, good judgement . Contact us todayto learn how our local team of attorneys can assist you. During those times, all other traffic is held at the tunnel entrance. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. They have all the same danger as anything else in the backcountry, and terms like slackcountry and sidecountry downplay those risks in arguably dangerous ways. The pass itself is a popular destination for backcountry skiers. Occasionally during the winter, the pass road may be closed by a blizzard and all traffic must use the tunnel, even the normally forbidden vehicles carrying hazardous materials. Pass scheduled to be re-evaluated at 5pm. As you follow the road you will climb up to the summit of Loveland Pass which is at 11,990 ft above sea level. 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