Two southwest mountain passes set to close Thursday morning for helicopter operations

Travel Advisory

April 9, 2025 - Southwestern Colorado - Closures begin at 8 a.m. on US 160 Wolf Creek Pass and 10 a.m. on CO 145 Lizard Head Pass

Southwest Colorado — Motorists should plan for lengthy closures and delays while the Colorado Department of Transportation completes winter maintenance and helicopter operations on Thursday, April 10. US Highway 160 Wolf Creek Pass between Pagosa Springs and South Fork is scheduled to close at 8 a.m. for approximately two hours. Colorado Highway 145 Lizard Head Pass, south of Telluride, will have lengthy delays between 10 a.m. and noon. The closures are needed to allow for safety during critical helicopter operations.

There is no exact time of reopening, and helicopter operations are weather-dependent. Please be aware that the delay times are approximate and may be extended should unusual circumstances arise. Travelers are advised to check COtrip.org for the most current information.

US 160 Wolf Creek Pass Traffic Impacts

On Thursday, April 10, at 8 a.m., eastbound and westbound motorists will encounter full stops and a lengthy delay of up to two hours. Motorists are urged to allow for extra travel time or seek alternate routes.

  • Eastbound travelers will encounter a closure at Treasure Falls (Mile Point 157), 13 miles east of Pagosa Springs
  • Westbound travelers will encounter a closure just east of Wolf Creek Pass Ski Area (MP 170), 16 miles west of South Fork

CO 145 Lizard Head Pass Traffic Impacts

On Thursday, April 10, at 10 a.m., southbound and northbound motorists will encounter full stops and intermittent delays lasting up to 30 minutes for much of the morning.

  • Northbound travelers will encounter delays nine miles north of Rico (Mile Point 56)
  • Southbound travelers will encounter delays 10 miles south of Telluride at Trout Lake (Mile Point 61)
  • Motorists will be intermittently guided by flaggers through the closure points

Know Before You Go

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

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!