Spring has sprung in Clear Creek County, where popular Guanella Pass Road will open to motorists on Thursday, April 16, the earliest opening date for the road since it was paved in 2016, said county public information officer Megan Hiler-Wilson.
The 24-mile scenic byway, which crosses from Georgetown south over the pass to Grant, typically opens over Memorial Day weekend, as do many other high mountain passes in Colorado. But “crews were able to clear the route significantly earlier,” due to unseasonably low snow levels and a dry winter, according to a statement from the county and the Town of Georgetown.
“This early opening is a testament to the seamless partnership between Clear Creek County, Park County, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service,” Clear Creek County Public Works Director Stoy Streepey said in a statement. “We hope visitors enjoy this rare, early access to the pass, and we ask that everyone helps us keep the route safe and accessible by following
parking regulations and staying prepared for changing mountain weather.”
A storm is expected to roll through on Friday, however, bringing the chance for snow and ice, so county officials are warning motorists that “while conditions currently allow for travel, visitors should be aware that the pass remains subject to temporary closures if spring snowstorms create hazardous driving conditions.”
Guanella Pass is a popular road trip and hiking destination because of its picturesque views of Mount Bierstadt, Mount Blue Sky, and Argentine Pass. During fall leaf-peeping season, traffic on the pass has to be regulated. It usually closes for the season around Thanksgiving.
