Colorado mountain passes

[prjones]

First post here! So far I’m loving this forum and app.

Last year I took an amazing trip to sw Colorado but I was kinda disappointed that a lot of the mountain passes were still closed Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately for me it looks like the only time I will be able to get off work this year is the same. Memorial Day and the week that follows. I was hoping to get some input on wether or not the passes will be open this year. Last year I heard that there was record snow and COVID slowed the openings.


Any recommendations on where to go and places to see is welcomed. My friend and I have pretty capable trucks but aren’t interested in super difficult trails. We are hoping to do the alpine loop and some of the other passes around the Ouray area.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

I've only ever been over there once in May and the only thing we caught open was Cinnamon.

Cinnamon and Ophir are both used pretty heavily to commute between towns and they get them open earlier.

We went about the second week in June last year and they had just gotten california, hurricane, Corkscrew open.

Last Dollar Road might be an option. You might also consider Rimrocker.

Otherwise, you might want to stay somewhere kind of centrally located and go up the trails as far as you can and then come back down.

 

[MMc]

CO is getting snow today.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

CO is getting snow today.

Yeah, 2-4" forecast for me tonight and I live in one of the drier regions.

 

[prjones]

Well fingers crossed some of them will be open the first week of June. I’m sure I’ll have a good time regardless but I’ve been skunked twice on Colorado trips

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Well fingers crossed some of them will be open the first week of June. I’m sure I’ll have a good time regardless but I’ve been skunked twice on Colorado trips

See if this helps:

COLORADO: 4WD Road & Trail Conditions.

It's very common for those from the warmer climes to plan their CO trips too early in the season arriving before their favorite trail opens. Generally a visit July - Sept will be the most fruitful. Depending on the year you can find some trails opening in June, but don't count on your...

www.overlandbound.com

 

[JeepRushRick]

Original poster, I will also be in the area first week in a June, had similar thoughts. I am not modified enough for extreme but hope to some moderate trails... Stony Pass, Kendall Mtn, Corkscrew Gulch etc

 

[Billiebob]

Original poster, I will also be in the area first week in a June, had similar thoughts. I am not modified enough for extreme but hope to some moderate trails... Stony Pass, Kendall Mtn, Corkscrew Gulch etc

Watch the weather, a sunny spring day can become a blizzard any time of the year, but at higher elevations you can have a snow day in July.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Original poster, I will also be in the area first week in a June, had similar thoughts. I am not modified enough for extreme but hope to some moderate trails... Stony Pass, Kendall Mtn, Corkscrew Gulch etc

Corkscrew (all the way to Animas Forks) had just opened up the 2nd week of June last year. Stony was open too, but be careful of the Pole Creek crossing on Stony. It can be impassable under the right conditions and there was loss of life 2 years ago. It was nothing last June when we were there, however. The side crossing to Kite Lake was a good bit deeper.

 

[Mrprez]

Cuchara Pass, Hwy 12, west of Trinidad, CO on 4/20/21.

 

[JeepRushRick]

yes I realize time of the year plays a big role... I'm solo and free until August so I should be good lol!