Wildfire Closes I 70 in Colorado

I 70 is currently closed from MM 141 to mm 114 thru Glenwood Canyon due to a large and growing wildfire. This is probably going to be an extended closure, it's not looking like the road will reopen till Thursday or Friday at the earliest.

The Colorado detours are Hwy 9 North out of Silverthorne to US 40 west to Craig and then south on Hwy 13 to I 70 in Rifle. Or US 285 So. out of Denver to Pagosa Springs, then pickup US 50 west to Montrose.

Either detour can add 4 hours or more on to the route. A fair warning, if you already don't like Colorado's mountains on I 70, you will hate these detours even more. The northern detour goes over Rabbit Ears pass, which is long and steep, with very strict speed enforcement, as well as several small towns and some tight roads, Colo. 13 from Meeker to Rifle is no picnic either.

The southern route will take you over Monarch Pass, often considered once of the more dangerous passes in Colorado. Not to mention to traffic filled congestion of US 285 between Denver and Fairplay. Also, US 50 from Gunnison to Montrose is twisty along Blue Mesa Res. and very tight through the Black Canyon area west of there.

If you have the option to detour to I 80 and across, I would strongly advise it.

Grizzly Creek Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System

 

Expect frequent and possibly sudden closures due to mudslides, rock slides, rainfall, etc., multiple rain storms are expected in the area the next 10 days