Howdy -
Has anyone made the drive from TX to created butte in december? We are going skiing and curios if roads are maintained? Weve been to wolf creek but this drive would take us farther north. Appreciate any feedback.

Every other year with my family since the early 90s. The only real trouble spot from time to time is Monarch pass. When it's snowy they require chains, and when it is really snowy they will shut the pass completely. Never had that happen when I was going through.

Take your time and it'll be fine.

Thxs Zobel. That is all i needed to hear. Appreciate it.

Can you take Dora with you?

Been there, done that

https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAB0219.pdf
Doable but pay close attention to conditions.

You have 2 options. Monarch pass or North Pass (114 from Saguache). Monarch will literally be a compacted snow road at some point that requires chains or 4WD. North Pass will be more pavement. Monarch route is prettier but you spend a lot of time going West-East in Colorado meaning snowy conditions. North Pass route is North-South in Colorado and West-East in New Mexico and Texas. This all depends on when the last storm took place.

Monarch is 11,312' high and North Pass is 10,165'. Monarch is going to be snowier, but is on a road that is more heavily used and will be better maintained in the event of a storm. I would make it a day of the drive decision after you come through Raton Pass. If it is reasonably good weather and there wasn't just a huge storm that went through, I would take North Pass because it is faster than the Monarch route and I think the road through North Pass is more scenic. If the weather is not great, I would go over Monarch because it is going to be more travelled and better maintained. If there is heavy snow, it is a crap shoot because Monarch may end up closed while North Pass may still be open, but the North Pass road is pretty twisty in a few places following the edge of a creek and if you don't have 4-wheel drive and chains, it could be pretty hairy for a flat land driver.