High-elevation mountain passes on three roadways will close for about two hours Tuesday morning for winter helicopter operations.
Helicopters will lift equipment to prevent seasonal avalanches, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Motorists should expect delays and plan ahead.
Southwest Colorado-spanning closures will begin at the following times and locations.
U.S. Highway 160: 7:30 a.m., Wolf Creek Pass between Pagosa Springs and South Fork.
- Treasure Falls, 13 miles east of Pagosa Springs at mile point 157 will close for travelers moving east.
- Wolf Creek Pass Ski Area, 19 miles west of South Fork at mile point 167 will close for travelers moving west.
U.S. Highway 550: 9 a.m., Red Mountain Pass between Ouray and Silverton.
- North of Ironton, at mile point 87, a closure will impact northbound travelers.
- Bear Creek Overlook, about three miles south of Ouray at mile point 90.6, a closure will impact southbound travelers.
Colorado Highway 145: 10:30 a.m., Lizard Head Pass between Rico and Telluride
- Northbound travelers will encounter a closure at Forest Service Road 423, two miles north of Rico at mile point 49.
- A possibility of two closures exists for southbound travelers: One three miles north of Rico at mile point 50 and another close to Trout Lake at mile point 61.
For more information and updated travel information, visit https://www.codot.gov/news/2025/november/sw-mountain-passes-close-nov25 or https://www.codot.gov/.
