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The Colorado Travel map provides current highway and travel resources. Embedded QR bar codes give travelers with mobile devices quick access to road conditons, scenic byways and Colorado Tourism.

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A bridge on Highway 50 is under construction, affecting travel to Gunnison from the west. Learn more here .

Local & Regional Travel Alerts

Colorado road conditions.

Check this page before your visit to learn about current travel alerts in Gunnison County and the surrounding area. Driving from Denver or Montrose? Check out the following resources for Colorado road conditions and road construction. To help you prepare for your trip, you’ll also find information on current wildfires, campfire restrictions, emergency alerts and health safety information. Going backcountry skiing? Check the weather and the Crested Butte Avalanche Center’s avalanche forecast first.

U.S. Highway 50 bridge improvements

Bridge under construction between gunnison and montrose.

A section of U.S. Highway 50 between Montrose and Gunnison is currently under construction for bridge repairs. Businesses in the area are still operating, and Blue Mesa Reservoir is still accessible at most points. Get the latest updates on our bridge information page.

U.S. Highway 50 Little Blue Creek project

A section of Highway 50 between Gunnison and Montrose is currently under construction. The area is called Little Blue Creek Canyon and is located between mile markers 123 and 127. Learn more on the U.S. 50 Little Blue Creek Improvements website.

Spring Creek Road bridge construction

Starting Aug. 5, 2024, two bridges on Spring Creek Road will be undergoing construction. Spring Creek Road will be closed from miles 4.5-6 during this time. For more details, including alternate routes to Spring Creek Reservoir and Doctor Park trail, read the Forest Service press release linked below.

Fire Restrictions

National forest campfire rules.

Like most of the Rocky Mountain region, the Gunnison Valley is prone to wildfires. Check the U. S. Forest Service website to learn about fire restrictions in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) national forests. You’ll also find information on current wildfires.

Gunnison County Fire Info

Stay on top of emergencies and other alerts, including county-wide fire bans and current wildfires, on the Gunnison County website. 

Colorado wildfire smoke map

Wondering where the smoke is coming from? This map shows all wildfires currently burning in the United States, including prescribed burns. Counties under red flag warnings are also marked. 

Gunnison Valley Weather Cams

Live weather conditions.

Wondering about current conditions on Highway 50 and Highway 135? Visit our webcams page to see current weather conditions in Gunnison, Almont and Crested Butte.

ROAD CONDITIONS

Check cotrip before driving through the mountains.

Since winter conditions are frequent in the Rocky Mountains, it’s a good idea to research your route before hitting the road. COTrip offers live updates, traffic reports, travel alerts and webcams on road conditions across Colorado. Information on seasonal road closures, including Cottonwood Pass, Schofield Pass and Kebler Pass, can also be found on COTrip. The site also includes info on road construction, road damage and other timely issues that could affect travel.

CRESTED BUTTE AVALANCHE CONDITIONS

Reading and interpreting snowpack.

Planning to backcountry ski while you’re in Gunnison Crested Butte this winter? Be sure to check out the avalanche forecast from the Crested Butte Avalanche Center before you head out on your ski tour. Visit CBAC’s website for more information.

Receive notifications during an emergency

Get the code red app.

During an emergency, local authorities will send you information via the Code Red app. Notifications may include descriptions of the emergency, evacuations and other procedures. 

WINTER DRIVING

Tips for driving in snow and obeying colorado’s traction law.

Did you know Colorado has a law about traction requirements for your vehicle’s tires? View the PDFs below to learn more about how to drive safely in winter conditions and how to prepare your vehicle for snowy roads.

Gunnison County Covid-19 Resources

Gunnison county health data and more.

To learn more about local public health orders, testing information and more, visit the Gunnison County coronavirus information website.

More Colorado travel inspiration

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Hiking to Aspen from Crested Butte

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Spring 2023 trail openings in Crested Butte and Gunnison

Spring activities in Gunnison and Crested Butte

Animals and Birds of Gunnison, Colorado

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CDOT Colorado Road Conditions 12+

511 travel info & traffic cams, lw brands, llc.

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• 4.5 • 6.3K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

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Description.

The best way to view CDOT traffic alerts, road conditions and travel information. MAIN FEATURES INCLUDE: + CDOT 511 Traffic Incidents + Live Stream CCTV Cameras + Road Conditions & Planned Events + Customizable Push Notifications + Home Screen Camera Widgets + Winter Weather Analysis + Snowplow Tracker CDOT TRAFFIC INCIDENTS INCLUDE: Traffic collisions, advisories, hazards, weather advisories, heavy traffic, road closures, chain control, road work, fire activity LIVE STREAM CCTV CAMERAS: Create customized groups of CCTV cameras for viewing traffic on your route. This feature gives users a quick way of assessing road and traffic conditions. HOME SCREEN CAMERA WIDGETS: Add up to (4) home screen widgets displaying your favorite CCTV cams. PUSH NOTIFICATIONS: Track CDOT incidents and receive Push Notifications when new updates are available. The app also sends notifications when an incident is no longer being tracked by CDOT. This feature is critical for staying up-to-date on road closures due to accidents. ROAD CONDITION CATEGORIES: Dry, scattered showers, rain, wet, slushy, high wind, poor visibility, snow, snow packed, snow packed icy spots, icy, icy spots, lowing Snow, Closed , Rock Slide WINTER WEATHER ANALYSIS: - NOAA Snowfall Reports - Current Radar - NWS Watches & Warnings - Winter Weather Severity Index SNOWPLOW TRACKER Quickly track the latest snowplow locations in your area. Enjoy!

Version 1.39

+ Updated a few live stream cameras + Fixed a few bugs Thank you for the positive feedback!

Ratings and Reviews

6.3K Ratings

One app to rule them all

As an Over The Road truck driver who travels across CO/WY weekly, this app has proven to be near perfect. Not only has it combined the data I usually get from numerous apps but it also makes getting camera views so much easier. Also one of the main features it has is the notification when a road alert has been removed, which isn’t available with the official state 511 apps. What used to take a good amount of time to trip plan is now accomplished in just a couple of minutes. Developer was quick to respond to a suggestion I had and followed up with me. Highly recommend it for anyone traveling.

Developer Response ,

Thank you for the review!!!

Great data aggregator in user friendly format

This lone soldier has done something that CDOT dared not do - actually aggregated all of the available data into an easy to digest format in a stable, modern app. Google was telling me there was, of course, a 29 minute delay on my way to Broomfield last night because of a crash. I used this app to pull up the cameras on 25 to see if the crash was still there. It was not only still there, but traffic was dead stopped. By looking at the cameras, we were able to see that the express lanes were empty and unaffected. As a result we took the express land and blew past stopped traffic at 65, saving us at least 30 minutes.

Thank you for the review!  Great to hear the app was useful for you!

Absolutely outstanding. Could save lives.

Downloaded this app in preparation for a trip across Colorado along I-70 crossing the entire state in February. Since February can be a brutal weather month I want to have access to as much information to be as prepared as possible. After playing with the app for about 10 minutes to get an understanding of how to use it, it is clear that this app is the best travel tool I have ever used. Very easy to learn, easy to navigate and can really save someone from being unprepared driving into dangerous road conditions.

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The developer, LW Brands, LLC , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

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Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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Man rescued after reportedly being left stranded on Colorado mountain by colleagues

The incident happened on Mt. Shavano in Colorado's San Isabel National Forest.

A worker on an office hiking retreat to a national forest in Colorado had to be rescued after 14 of his colleagues allegedly left him stranded on a 14,230-foot mountain, authorities said.

"In what might cause some awkward encounters at the office in the coming days and weeks, one member of their party was left to complete his final summit push alone," Chaffee County, Colorado, Search and Rescue said in a statement.

The team-building expedition gone wrong unfolded Friday on Mt. Shavano in central Colorado's San Isabel National Forest, according to search-and-rescue officials.

"Initial reports to our communications center indicated a group of 15 hikers on an office retreat had left the Blanks Cabin Trailhead at sunrise that morning, with a group completing summit attempts and a separate group ascending to the saddle (area of the mountain) and returning from there," rescuers said in the statement.

While 14 employees made it down the mountain safely, rescue officials said one was left to complete the summit push alone.

The lone employee made it to the summit at 11:30 a.m., but when he tried to descend, "he became disoriented," according to rescue officials.

Making matters worse, his colleagues descending the mountain ahead of him inexplicably collected belongings left in a boulder field to mark the path down, officials said.

"In his initial attempts to descend, he found himself in the steep boulder and scree field on the northeast slopes toward Shavano Lake," according to officials.

The man, whose name and company were not released, used his cellphone to pin-drop his location to his co-workers, who informed him that he was on the wrong route and instructed him to hike back up to the summit to get to the correct trail down, officials said.

Just before 4 p.m. local time on Friday, he sent another location pin-drop to his colleagues that he was near the correct trail.

"Shortly after that message, a strong storm passed through the area with freezing rain and high winds, and he again became disoriented, losing his cell phone signal as well," rescue officials said.

When his colleagues didn't hear from him, they reported him missing to Chaffee County Search and Rescue at 9 p.m., some eight-and-a-half hours after he started his descent, officials said.

A search was immediately launched, but rescue teams on the ground encountered freezing rain and high winds that hampered their hike to the Mt. Shavano summit, officials said. The foul weather also made it difficult to operate a search-and-rescue drone in the area, authorities said.

While an aerial search continued, a rescue helicopter crew flew several search patterns over the area where the lost hiker pin-dropped his last location but found no sign of the man, who was dressed in all black clothing, leaving him to spend the night stranded on the mountain, officials said.

Rescue teams continued to search for the man into Saturday morning and summoned other teams from across the region to help.

The lost hiker regained enough cellphone service Saturday morning to call 911 and report his location, enabling rescuers to find him in a gully near a drainage creek, extract him and take him to a hospital, where he was in stable condition, officials said.

"He reported being very disoriented on his descent and falling at least 20 times on the steep slopes," rescue officials said in the statement, adding that the hiker was unable to get up after his last fall.

"This hiker was phenomenally lucky to have regained cell service when he did, and to still have enough consciousness and wherewithal to call 911," said rescue officials.

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CDOT announces extended opening times for passage on US 50 Middle Bridge beginning Friday

Travel advisory.

Montrose, Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties — The Colorado Department of Transportation is pleased to extend opening times of the US Highway 50 Middle Bridge for the Labor Day weekend. Approved vehicles will be able to cross both bridges from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. from Friday, Aug. 30, through Monday, Sept. 2 in a one-way alternating traffic formation. Following the holiday weekend, the both bridges will remain fully open from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily with pilot car operations and alternating traffic. The Middle Bridge will close for repair work from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. starting Sept. 3, and the Lake Fork Bridge will have longer traffic holds during those overnight hours. This schedule will continue through at least mid-October.

With several phases of repairs complete and global plating operations continuing on the US 50 Middle Bridge, the operation will also see an expanded list of vehicles that can cross. County Road 26 will remain open with pilot car operations and maintained as a detour for commercial vehicles and semi trucks.

Approved for crossing over the US 50 Middle Bridge:

• Passenger vehicles
• Pickup trucks
• Motorcycles
• Emergency vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks
• School buses

Starting on Aug. 30, the following vehicles can now cross over the US 50 Middle Bridge:

• 0.75 ton or smaller pickups with bumper pull trailers (boats, campers, side-by-sides)
• Compact Class C motorhomes
• Small single rear axle box trucks

Required to utilize County Road 26 detour:

• All Class A motorhomes
• Larger Class C motorhomes
• Semi-trucks
• Commercial buses
• Pickup trucks with a gooseneck trailer or a fifth-wheel camper or trailer

US 50 Lake Fork Bridge Update

Traffic on the US 50 Lake Fork Bridge continues to be led by pilot cars during the day to keep speeds low while construction crews work on temporary scaffolding decks under the bridge. Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3, overnight extended flagging operations will commence from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days a week on the US 50 Lake Fork Bridge. Crews will be conducting repair work on the bridge overnight. Motorists should expect longer wait times to cross the bridge during this time frame. The US 50 Lake Fork Bridge is open to all legal loads.

This revised plan prioritizes getting public travel closer to normal as soon as possible. It also extends the nighttime construction activity later into the season.

The project team is working towards allowing all legal loads, including commercial vehicles and semi trucks, as well as extending the opening time of the US 50 Middle Bridge from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily by mid-October.

Detour Routes:

Motorists who use County Road 26 as a detour will encounter a new schedule starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, which is detailed below.

County Road 26 continues to serve as a bypass around the bridge closure for travel between Gunnison and Montrose. This detour route is open for seven releases in each direction every day except Wednesdays when there are five releases in each direction. Each Wednesday there is a midday closure to allow crews to safely make repairs to the road, when staff and materials are available. The State of Colorado legal maximum vehicle dimensions and weights will be enforced. This allows trailers and heavier commercial vehicles to use the bypass.

Vehicles traveling through Colorado should utilize the alternate state highway detours to the north and south (Interstate 70 and US Highway 160) instead of County Road 26 if possible. To maintain the local access route as a viable, safe bypass, traffic is managed using pilot vehicles. It is a high mountain native surface and gravel road.

Along with County Road 26, Kebler Pass is now open for the season to help ease travel through the area. Kebler Pass restrictions include no vehicles over 30,000 pounds, no vehicles longer than 50 feet and no hazardous materials.

For state permits contact the Colorado Department of Transportation at 1-800-350-3765 or through coopr.codot.gov .

For County permits contact Gunnison County Public Works at 970-641-0044 or email [email protected] or online at gunnisoncounty.org/157/Public-Works .

A hotline and email address continue to be available to assist customers with questions about the local access route and US 50 bridge closure. Anyone with questions can reach out via 970-648-4423 or [email protected] . Calls are closely monitored and receive a prompt reply. Information is also available on the project website at bit.ly/us50bridge. Travelers should refer to COtrip.org or the smartphone COtrip Planner app to plan an alternate route.

Travel Impacts

• US 50 is closed between Montrose and Gunnison
• Recommended alternate routes are I-70 to the north or US 160 to the south
• Oversize/overweight vehicles will only be allowed on CR 26 with a permit on Wednesdays per Colorado Department of Transportation regulations. https://leg.colorado.gov/content/size-and-weight-limitations
• No Placarded Hazardous Materials loads per Colorado Department of Transportation regulations
• Prohibited vehicles will need to use detours on I-70 or US 160 to travel between Gunnison and Montrose.

Resources for Information and Updates

• Call (970) 648-4423 for the US 50 Bridge Closure Hotline, staffed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday; leave a voicemail for a call back at other times
• You can email questions to [email protected]
• Website resources: https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/1078/Hwy-50-Bridge-Closure , bit.ly/us50bridge;  https://www.facebook.com/US50bridge
• To sign up for email updates on all Gunnison County roadwork messaging, please visit https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/list.aspx to select what updates you’d like to start receiving. For road updates, select Travel Advisories from the List.

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!