Thanks to a coordinated effort between Clear Creek County Road and Bridge, Park County Road and Bridge, and the United States Forest Service, Guanella Pass will officially open for the summer season on Friday, May 26th at 9:00 a.m after its annual winter closure.
Guanella Pass Scenic Byway is 24 miles of picturesque views and climbs to above treeline. On it, visitors can see multiple mountain peaks including Mt. Bierstadt, Mt. Evans, and Argentine Pass.
"This year is looking good up there, there was about three feet of snow when we started clearing it a few weeks ago," District Supervisor for Clear Creek County Public Works Fred Nelson said. "Every driver going up and over the pass should take their time. You also need to be prepared--the weather can change quickly. Enjoy what Mother Nature has given us. Be kind and have some courtesy to other travelers."
For traffic and other information, you can call the Guanella Pass Road Information Line at 303-679-2422 x2.
For information on camping, trails, travel tips, and other activities in the area, please visit the following sites:
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232306
https://www.colorado.com/byways/guanella-pass
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.