Cottonwood Pass west of Buena Vista closes for the winter

From Buena Vista, County Road 306 heads west and climbs hard, ending at the summit of Cottonwood Pass on the Continental Divide at about 12,126 feet. It is one of the high points you can drive to in this part of the state, and the views from the top are a big reason people make the trip.

The catch is the season. The top of the pass is closed by snow for much of the year and reopens once crews can clear it, usually in late spring or early summer. So a route that feels like a quick shortcut over the divide in August is simply not open in winter, and the dates shift year to year with the snow.

It also helps to know who keeps it up. The east side near Buena Vista and the west side toward Gunnison County are maintained by different crews, with Gunnison County handling the western descent. That is part of why opening and closing are not a single switch.

If Cottonwood Pass is part of your plan, check whether it is open before you go. The Forest Service summit page and the state’s seasonal closure list will tell you the current status, and COtrip shows live road conditions.