US 160 Wolf Creek Pass to close early tomorrow morning for snow removal operations

Winter Travel Alert

February 8, 2024 - Southwestern Colorado - A new storm system moves in tonight
CDOT Photo: A snow plow clears snow on US 160 near Treasure Falls, Feb. 7.
CDOT Photo: A snow plow clears snow on US 160 near Treasure Falls, Feb. 7.

Southwest Colorado - The Colorado Department of Transportation has scheduled critical winter maintenance operations on US Highway 160 Wolf Creek Pass for tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m., (Fri., Feb. 9). Travelers are urged to plan ahead, allow for extra travel time, or arrive and drive through the gates before the designated closure time.

US 160 Wolf Creek Pass, closure begins at 5:30 a.m.
Both eastbound and westbound motorists will encounter full stops and one extended delay of up to two hours. Motorists are urged to allow for extra travel time or seek alternate routes.

  • West Closure Point: Treasure Falls (Mile Point 157), 13 miles east of Pagosa Springs
  • East Closure Point: Wolf Creek Pass Ski Area (Mile Point 167), 19 miles west of South Fork

CDOT prioritizes US 160 Wolf Creek Pass as a critical route connecting rural communities and freight across southwest Colorado. Public safety is at the forefront when determining highway closures. CDOT maintenance supervisors work closely with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), National Weather Service forecasters and Colorado State Patrol to determine if avalanche mitigation is needed and if the route is safe for motorists to travel.

The length of closures for planned winter maintenance operations depends upon snow accumulations and the severity of the avalanche danger. Control missions may be performed quickly with short road closures, or the missions may require more lengthy closures lasting several hours. More frequently, closures occur between Treasure Falls and the pass summit, because most missions take place on the west side of the Wolf Creek where the steep geological features contribute to the high potential of natural slides coming down onto the highway.

Motorists are urged to check highway impacts on COtrip.org as a new storm system is forecasted to move into the southwest corner of the state tonight.

Southwest mountain pass snowfall accumulation totals expected through Sat., Feb 10:

  • US 550 Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain Passes: 8-9 inches
  • US 160 Wolf Creek Pass: 18 inches
  • US 160 La Veta Pass: 7 inches
  • US 50 Monarch Pass: 7 inches
  • CO 145 Lizard Head Pass: 8 inches
  • CO 17 Cumbres & La Manga Passes: 13 inches
Colorado Department of Transportation and National Weather Service expected snowfall accumulation map showing highway totals Thursday, February 8 through Saturday, February 10.
Colorado Department of Transportation and National Weather Service expected snowfall accumulation map showing highway totals Thursday, February 8 through Saturday, February 10.

Winter Travel Tips for Motorists

  • Avoid or limit driving during the brunt of the storm. Many areas of the state will experience pavement impacts and blowing snow due to strong winds.
  • Work from home if you can.
  • If you plan to travel, know before you go by checking out the latest weather conditions and visiting COtrip.org for road conditions (see info sources below).
  • Make sure your vehicle is winter ready with the appropriate tires for the weather and have a snow emergency kit.
  • Once you are out on the road, take it slow, no sudden stops and leave plenty of following distance.
  • Give plows space! Stay back three to four car lengths from snow plows.

Safety Closures

A safety closure is a precaution taken during inclement weather to reduce the probability of traffic incidents, increased congestion or other safety-related factors. During a safety closure, traffic may be stopped on the interstate, turned around or directed to an exit. Safety closures help decrease delay times, and, above all, keep travelers safe.

Chain and Traction Laws

When weather conditions warrant, CDOT will activate the Traction Law. If weather conditions deteriorate, CDOT will activate Chain Laws for passenger and commercial vehicles. Motorists will be alerted to an active Traction or Chain Law by highway signage, COtrip.org and traffic/roadway condition alerts. For more information on the Traction Law and Passenger Vehicle Chain Law requirements, visit codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/tractionlaw. For more information on the Commercial Vehicle Chain Law requirements, visit codot.gov/travel/colorado-chain-laws. To learn more and view helpful tips for winter driving, visit winter.codot.gov.

COtrip.org and COtrip Planner app

Motorists are urged to visit COtrip.org and download the COtrip Planner app ahead of traveling. Motorists are now able to sign up for travel alerts through COtrip.org to see if there are any highway closures or impacts along their favorite routes. The COtrip Planner app also offers a “Trip Planner” feature that allows motorists to map out their routes and receive updates about road closures or incidents along the way. Motorists can turn on the “Hands-Free, Eyes Free” feature to receive these alerts via voice notifications and avoid routes with impacts.

CDOT is also pleased to offer motorists the opportunity to track CDOT snow plows on the app and website, and can even follow some of our “celebrity” plows that were named by elementary school students last year. Using the snow plow tracker allows motorists to see where our plows have been and even see what the road conditions look like by viewing the cameras in the area of the plows. CDOT plows have thousands of miles of roadway to maintain, so motorists are asked to please be patient and are reminded to never pass a plow on the right or while in echelon formation. It is always safer to stay behind a plow.

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts, anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions before hitting the road. CDOT and other resources include: