Highway safety closures are in place due to active wildfires in several locations around the state. The closures are in response to wildfires that continue to burn or are expanding to locations near state highways. Wildfire conditions in Colorado are an active situation: fire conditions can change rapidly with closures at any time. Motorists should avoid fire areas and be prepared for new road conditions and delays. CDOT recommends that travelers “know before you go” by checking COtrip.org before traveling, having detour maps handy (see below) and packing emergency food, water, and other supplies.
Reopening for all routes below will depend on wildfire activity in the coming days. Closures include:
Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon is closed between Mile Point 116 (Glenwood Springs) and MP 140 (Gypsum) due to the Grizzly Creek Fire. The closure began Monday, Aug. 10, when the Grizzly Creek Fire began burning along the interstate. There is no estimated time of opening I-70 in Glenwood Canyon. More information about the Grizzly Creek Fire can be found here.
Colorado Highway 14 is closed from west of Cameron Pass and Walden (Mile Point 61) for eastbound traffic and at Rustic and County Road 69 (MP 91) for westbound traffic due to the Cameron Peak Wildfire. Please see alternate routes below. More information about the Cameron Peak Fire can be found here.
Colorado Highway 139 (Douglas Pass) is closed due to fire activity from the Pine Gulch Fire. The closure is north of Loma (Fruita/Grand Junction) and between Mile Point 6 and MP 39. There is no anticipated time for reopening. More information about the Pine Gulch Fire can be found here.
The Williams Fork Fire in Grand County is burning near US Highway 40 and Colorado Highway 9, north of I-70, but is not impacting state highways at this time. More information about the Williams Fork Fire can be found here.
CDOT urges drivers to take recommended detours (see below) and not rely on mapping apps that may take motorists on forest roads and over mountain passes. Remote, rugged routes are not built for heavy traffic or for two-wheel drive vehicles.