Cottonwood Pass expected to reopen May 21

Cottonwood Pass will be reopened for the 2026 summer season by about 5 p.m. May 21. 

A press release stated that Chaffee County is working with the Gunnison County Public Works Department to make sure the pass is cleared on both sides of the county line. The estimated reopening date is contingent on weather conditions. 

Cottonwood Pass crosses the Continental Divide at 12,120 feet and connects Chaffee and Gunnison counties. Approximately half a million vehicles travel the pass each year, which is generally closed from early October through mid-May.