We're planning a last minute trip to Breck. We usually go to Winter Park via Denver. I'm seeing you can get to Breck via Denver but there's a shorter route that cuts through to Pueblo. Thoughts? I'm generally a fan of sticking to the interstate when driving in and out of mountains in the winter. Looks like trade off is about an hour.

If you're going to Breckenridge, you can completely skip Denver by getting off I-25 in Colorado Springs and taking US 24 West to Hartsel where you head north towards Fairplay on Colorado Hwy 9.

Use Google Maps tp see which roads are green for traffic.

Also use

https://www.cotrip.org/map.htm

https://nmroads.com/mapIndex.html?

https://drivetexas.org

The only problem you may have is altitude and motion sickness going over the divide between alma and blue River - it's a trip...

Unless you're trying to drive through that stretch in a blizzard, it's a beautiful route. We did it once in the aforementioned blizzard. We had an unexpected delay that put us leaving out of Colorado Springs about 4 hours later than I had planned. We ALMOST made it to Breck before the storm hit. Key word, almost. It hit us about 15 miles away from Breck and those last 15 miles took us 2 hours through the winding curves and dark. That was quite the white knuckled, slip and slide, "where's the edge of the road" stretch!

Highway 9 is your friend!

Echo the Fairplay / Hartsel route. Beautiful passes and high altitude valleys. Lots of elk or antelope too.

If the pass is open I agree, 24 to 9 is a beautiful drive. Those switchbacks coming into town in the pass are white knuckle if its bad weather.

Yeah, if you're driving through a blizzard, all bets are off.
I just did that from Fort Stockton to San Antonio two weeks ago

Seriously, I've had a few harrowing experiences here or there. All I can say is be prepared with Snow tires, chains, etc. Stay within your driving abilities and most importantly your ability to stop.

When we lived in COS I had to have a Jeep bro pull me out of a snow bank off Hoosier Pass. The roads were fine, however I underestimated how deep the snow on the side was when I needed to pull over. That being said, we've made the drive many times from Fort Worth to COS and I highly recommend taking 24 up to 9. If weather is bad, you won't want to be on any roads.

Here are two links with live view webcams. They should assist you in determining the road conditions ahead of time or as you are actually traveling.

South Park/Hartsel/Fairplay conditions

Colorado Webcams - Entire State

Hope these are of use and of interest.

Try to keep a close eye on the weather and be ready to do the I-25->I-70 into Breck in a pinch. If there is weather or was weather, you don't want to do the scenic route.

I will say that I-25 to I-70 can get bad too. About 10 years ago we were visiting my brother who lived on Colorado Springs for Christmas and took a day trip to Breck. We went out 24 and decided based on the conditions and the heavy snow that day to come back I-70. It took 7 hours to get back. We got caught in blizzard conditions, the road went to crap, and they had an avalanche that required extra equipment to clear the road. That shut down the Eisenhower Tunnel to traffic to get the equipment in. We were all stuck bumper to bumper moving at 1-2 mph and cars couldn't maintain those low speeds without slipping and sliding.

Yeah, there have been a few epic avalanches on I-70. Luckily, very few people have been killed.

Driving to CO as well and worried about diesel along the way. Any issues outside of Texas?

HollywoodBQ said:

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If you're going to Breckenridge, you can completely skip Denver by getting off I-25 in Colorado Springs and taking US 24 West to Hartsel where you head north towards Fairplay on Colorado Hwy 9.

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This is the back way we often used when living in the springs. Scenic drive as well.

If your plans are for the period of 3/10 - 3/20 - be advised a pretty substantial snow event over those dates is being forecast. Just a heads up.

Anyone with thoughts on breck for the last weekend they're open. April 17-18. I'm looking at going but no idea what to expect that late In the spring

I wouldn't do it

The forecast is for multiple days of snow, but none of them are expected to be strong. The most they're predicting in one day is 4/5 inches. That's something to keep an eye on, but it's not a winter storm advisory etc.

Tagging on to this thread. We are driving up from Houston to Breck this weekend. Stopping in Amarillo Saturday and arriving Sunday. Any concerns on road conditions?

We are routing through Colorado Springs then taking 24 to Hartsel and 9 into Breckinridge

JustPanda said:

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The forecast is for multiple days of snow, but none of them are expected to be strong. The most they're predicting in one day is 4/5 inches. That's something to keep an eye on, but it's not a winter storm advisory etc.

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4/5"?

My weather app says 10-16 sat and 6-9 sun. That's on top of 3-5 fri night. This is south Denver.

Seems like a **** load of snow to me.

The point of me posting an advisory is NOT the amount of snow that Vail might get (or where ever you are) - it is the large amounts that are forecast for the areas that folks will be driving up through to get to where ever they are headed to from Texas.

The I25 corridor is forecast to get dumped on Thurs through Sunday or Monday. Driving will be affected.

Several areas mentioned in comments above as good areas to drive through are likely to be affected by substantial snow amounts.

Pay close attention to forecasts and webcams and watch the updates as this moves across the area.

Check out this forecast.....

Snow Forecast Possibilities

Significant Snowfall Likely

I agree 62strat

Driving some of the mentioned routes above could be sketchy this week/weekend. Just sayin'.......

Significant snow is forecast Thurs through Sunday/Monday.

Possible Snowfall Amounts Map

I'm in Keystone now and headed home to DFW Friday. The local news is already talking about it being a big deal. I'd delay travel if possible gauging what they're saying.
That being said, forecasts change so we'll see what they say tomorrow night.

Hincemm said:

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Anyone with thoughts on breck for the last weekend they're open. April 17-18. I'm looking at going but no idea what to expect that late In the spring

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Where did you see that Breck is closing April 17-18? As far as I can tell, they're still planning to close on May 31st.

I have a condo there if interested. 175 yards from Peak 9/Quicksilver lift, and in a great location to access restaurants/shopping on Main Street.

cadetjay02 said:

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I'm in Keystone now and headed home to DFW Friday. The local news is already talking about it being a big deal. I'd delay travel if possible gauging what they're saying.
That being said, forecasts change so we'll see what they say tomorrow night.

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Glad you're heading back Friday, especially if flying out of Denver. The snow has been pretty weak in Denver the last 2 years, and I have a feeling this one is going to be big. I'm looking forward to it before heading to Crested Butte next week to ski.

62strat said:

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My weather app says 10-16 sat and 6-9 sun. That's on top of 3-5 fri night. This is south Denver.

Seems like a **** load of snow to me.

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Full Disclosure - I spent 3 winters in Valdez, Alaska, the snowiest town in the USA where we got more than 250 inches of snow every year.

Sounds like you're looking at maybe 24" spread across 3 days. Looks like it all depends on Saturday.

In April 2005, Denver got 17" of snow in one day and that shut down the airport for a couple days.

The big one was March 2003 when I got 48" at my house in Highlands Ranch 80129 in a single 30 hour long snowfall. That shut everything down for about 4 days.

If people are planning on driving, or flying through Denver this weekend, I'd change your plans and avoid it.

I remember the March 2003 storm. We got through Vail Pass right before the large avy over 70.

It snowed so much that weekend, you couldn't open the back patio door because the snow was over the frame.

It's a total whiteout here ATM

The mountain is going to be great the next week +

Plans changed last minute and we're now headed to Winter Park. We'll go to Pueblo Saturday and check the news from there. Hopefully we're able to drive in Sunday morning.

40" of snow in Denver is enormous.

What I'd be worried about are pass closures. Then you are screwed.

I wouldn't plan on getting anywhere on Saturday or Sunday. You will hate life and probably still won't get there. If you're going to the high country you need to be there by Friday.

I'm hoping the worst stays more north like they are forecasting. We are planning to arrive in Trinidad Saturday and then Crested Butte on Sunday. I'm looking to take 114 to avoid Monarch pass.

02skiag said:

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I'm hoping the worst stays more north like they are forecasting. We are planning to arrive in Trinidad Saturday and then Crested Butte on Sunday. I'm looking to take 114 to avoid Monarch pass.

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We're planning to drive from DFW to Wolf Creek (South Fork) on Saturday, but may watch weather to adjust departure. Are you planning on going up through La Veta Pass?