Highway 17 out of Antonito climbs over high mountain passes

From Antonito, the valley floor looks flat and easy. Head west on State Highway 17, though, and the road climbs out of the high desert and over the mountains, crossing La Manga Pass and Cumbres Pass on its way toward the New Mexico line and Chama.

A high pass is a different kind of driving than the valley below. Grades are steeper, weather changes fast, and snow can linger into late spring and arrive early in fall. A clear, calm afternoon in Antonito does not promise the same conditions at the top of the pass. Wind, ice, and sudden storms are normal parts of mountain travel here, and that is true for the area’s other byways as well.

The point is not to avoid the drive; it is one of the prettier routes in this corner of Colorado. The point is to treat it like the mountain road it is: check conditions before you go, carry what you need for cold weather, and give yourself time. In winter, traction or chain rules can apply on mountain highways.

For current conditions, closures, and any traction rules on Highway 17 and nearby passes, the Colorado Department of Transportation and its COtrip road-conditions service are the sources to check before you leave.