Guanella Pass Information 

GUANELLA PASS ROAD IS CLOSED FOR THE WINTER SEASON.

Guanella Pass Road has closed for the 2022-2023 seasonal winter closure.  The gates were closed Monday, Nov. 28th, 2022 at approximately 5:00 a.m. after a sweep of the summit parking lots and surrounding area.

Reopening of the pass will likely take place Friday, May 26th, 2023 leading into Memorial Day weekend.

 A gate at the Naylor Lake Road intersection (on the Georgetown/I-70 side) is installed next to a large parking lot for winter recreation. This gate is 0.8 miles from the summit and the Mount Bierstadt Trailhead. A gate is also placed at the Duck Creek Picnic Area turnoff (on the Park County/Highway 285 side) which is 6.5 miles from the summit and the Mount Bierstadt Trailhead.

Dispersed camping along Guanella Pass Road is now prohibited. Camping is only allowed in formally designated areas by the U.S. Forest Service.

A former burro trail, the now-paved Guanella Pass scenic byway is 22 miles and climbs to timberline, taking in spectacular views of Mount Bierstadt, Mount Evans and the alpine tundra before descending into cool groves of aspen and pine that light up with brilliant golden hues come autumn.

Helpful Links

For more information on camping, trails, travel tips and other activities in the area, please visit these sites:

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232306

https://www.colorado.com/byways/guanella-pass

You can also check the Guanella Pass Road Information Line at 303-679-2422 x2 for updates.

Trip Information

When it is open, there are also first come, first serve camping spots at Leavenworth Creek Road (two miles up from the Georgetown side). It is important to note that this road requires a high-clearance vehicle to access these camping spots (approximately 10 spots).

Multiple day trips can be enjoyed by auto-tourists crossing the pass. These include:

• Flat, scenic trail hikes at Silver Dale (1.5 miles up from Georgetown) with views of the South Fork Clear Creek, Leavenworth Creek, and the Georgetown Reservoir
• Leavenworth Creek Road (2 miles up from Georgetown) which has hiking, biking and more up to Pavilion Point or the old Waldorf Townsite
• Clear Lake (6 miles up from Georgetown) which has picnicking, trail walking around the lake, and fishing
• Naylor Lake/Silver Dollar Lake Trails (11 miles up from Georgetown) which has hiking, biking, scenic vistas, and high-altitude lakes

During Winter Months

Despite the seasonal closure, there are still some winter recreation areas that people can visit. 

• On the Georgetown side, Silver Dale Recreation Area (1.5 miles from downtown Georgetown) includes loops of trails that are great for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and mountain biking. See map here.  
• Leavenworth Creek Road (two miles from downtown Georgetown) includes a moderate climb up switchbacks for hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. This is for high clearance vehicles only. 
• Please be sure to check weather forecasts, ensure you are prepared, and dress appropriately before heading out during winter months.

For camping questions on the Georgetown/I-70 side of the pass, please call 303-567-4382.

For camping questions on the Grant/Highway 285 side of the pass, please call 303-275-5610.

Should you have questions or concerns, please contact our office: 303-679-2312 or by email at:  bluther@clearcreekcounty.us.