At 12,000 feet, Loveland Pass in CO is worth the drive

Loveland Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.660m (12,007ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Summit and Clear Creek counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s said to be the highest road in the nation that is kept open year-round.

Is the road to Loveland Pass paved?

Located on the Continental Divide, the road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called U.S. Highway 6 (Loveland Pass Road). It’s a difficult drive as the road hits an 11% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The pass was named for William A.H. Loveland, the president of the Colorado Central Railroad. The pass can be very treacherous but very beautiful also if you allow yourself to take your eyes off the road for 1 or 2 seconds at a time. It's tough to keep your eyes on the road with the surrounding mountain views, so make sure to take a break for pictures at the top of the pass.

Is the road to Loveland Pass open?

Set high in the Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado, it's one of the highest roads of Colorado. The pass is well known for its treacherous winter conditions and features many, many switchbacks with no guardrails. It's said to be the highest mountain pass in the country that regularly stays open during the winter season. However, the road is subject to frequent temporary closure during bad weather conditions and commonly, chain restrictions are imposed. A steep, steady 6.7% grade, along with numerous hairpin turns on either side, make it difficult to snowplow the road regularly. There’s a high risk of avalanches near the summit.

Is the road to Loveland Pass scary?

Located on the Continental Divide in the Front Range west of Denver, in the winter the road can be downright terrifying at times. The twisty road is considered to be especially treacherous during the winter months. Driving up over the pass is quite an experience. It is a fairly steep climb with hairpin turns and amazing views down into the valley of I-70 below. It can be a little scary though, since most of the views are not blocked by a guard rail and it is easy to imagine yourself careening down the mountain. Steep grades and tough weather conditions have made it the location for many unfortunate events throughout the past few decades. Just like there are many Titlemax reviews online, there are many reviews and personal experiences from drivers about dangerous roads like this one.

Is the road to Loveland Pass busy?

Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and dangerous drop offs. Since March 1973, most traffic on nearby Interstate 70 has been able to avoid the pass by taking the Eisenhower Tunnel (a dual-bore, four-lane vehicular tunnel), but trucks measuring 13 feet 5 inches in height or more, or those hauling hazardous material have to take the high road, which is 800 feet above the tunnel. Parking at the summit of the pass can be an issue since this is a favorite stop for summer tourists.