Planning a September 2020 trip around Colorado and looking for insight on towing our TT west to east over Cottonwood Pass between Taylor Park Reservoir and Buena Vista. Fairly experienced mountain travelers with a good rig - F150 Ecoboost and 6500lb 25 ft TT. Any tips from those who have traveled this pass is appreciated.

Cottonwood Pass (County Rd 306) underwent a two year upgrade. From the Summit east Chaffee County widened the shoulders and repaved. There are a number of tight hairpin curves that require paying attention, but improvements made them much better. There are a couple of steep but short downgrades which require watching your speed.On the west side of the pass Gunnison County completely relocated the roadbed straightening out the nasty hairpins just below the pass. The rest of the road was widened and paved. It was previously gravel all the way to Taylor Reservoir. Like the east side the west side road is fairly steep immediately below the pass.Enjoy the drive.

Should not be a problem if your rig is up to it. It is now paved on both sides. The recently paved West slope is as smoothe as glass. A few sharp curves so keep it under control.

Taylor Park is so beautiful, you may never want to leave!

Thanks. Paved is good! Looks like beautiful country on the satellite view. We may be boondocking north of the reservoir mid September. Will it be crowded with elk bow hunters?

While it will snow in Colorado in the spring, Colorado DOT knows snow and how to handle it. No matter the route, you may have to wait a day or two for them to clear the roads. US160 is a truck route and they keep it clear.

Planning on pulling Cottonwood Pass Colorado | Good Sam Community

Heisenberg
Explorer
Jan 06, 2020
piece of cake
Busskipper
Explorer
Jan 05, 2020
mordecai81 wrote:
Great vid, thanks! My wife is not gonna be pumped about the no guardrails!

Video is from 2016 it was paved in 2018-19 - https://www.outtherecolorado.com/cottonwood-pass-reopens-after-long-term-construction/ - used to be a washboard Gravel Road that would remove most if not all of your Fillings:)

While it is a good way to get to Crested Butte now, IMHO the best drives are still on the gravel roads that wander through the Collegiates - Just Beautiful!

Enjoy Colorado,
mordecai81
Explorer
Jan 04, 2020
Great vid, thanks! My wife is not gonna be pumped about the no guardrails!
Horsedoc
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHvcEWJ8FNU

Here ya go
mordecai81
Explorer
Jan 04, 2020
RAS43 wrote:
mordecai81 wrote:
Thanks. Paved is good! Looks like beautiful country on the satellite view. We may be boondocking north of the reservoir mid September. Will it be crowded with elk bow hunters?

Bow hunting season is for almost all of September, muzzle loading is for 9 days about in the middle.

Thanks. My wife and I fish and I never worry about bow hunters, but I try to be scarce during firearms seasons.
ppine
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2020
Thanks to Thunder Mtn.
Driving in CO is not for the faint of heart.
Most people have to get used to it.
RAS43
Explorer III
Jan 03, 2020
mordecai81 wrote:
Thanks. Paved is good! Looks like beautiful country on the satellite view. We may be boondocking north of the reservoir mid September. Will it be crowded with elk bow hunters?

Bow hunting season is for almost all of September, muzzle loading is for 9 days about in the middle.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jan 03, 2020
Cottonwood Pass is a terrific drive!
roam1
Explorer
Jan 03, 2020
Mid September may get snow there and if so, may close Cottonwood pass. Monarch pass will be open.
Busskipper
Explorer
Jan 03, 2020
Ozlander wrote:
While it will snow in Colorado in the spring, Colorado DOT knows snow and how to handle it. No matter the route, you may have to wait a day or two for them to clear the roads. US160 is a truck route and they keep it clear.

Cottonwood is on the Closure list and will usually be open late.

RT 160 is a little South of here and as a major Highway will be cleared and Open - not so much for Cottonwood Pass.

Use the CDOT webcams to see for sure as you travel the Roads of Colorado.

Best of Luck,

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