I-70 through Glenwood Canyon can close, and there is no quick way around

Interstate 70 is the main east-west route across Colorado, and in Garfield County it threads through Glenwood Canyon, a steep, narrow gorge along the Colorado River. It is a beautiful drive. It is also a place where the highway can close.

Rockfall, mudslides, and flash-flood risk have all shut the canyon at different times. After a wildfire burns the slopes above, heavy rain can send debris down onto the road, so the state will sometimes close the canyon ahead of a storm as a safety step. These closures can last hours or longer.

What makes this different from a normal traffic jam is the detour. There is no quick side road through the canyon. When I-70 closes here, the marked alternate routes swing far to the north or south and add a lot of driving time. A short trip can turn into most of a day.

The practical habit, especially in summer storm season and winter, is to check conditions before you go and keep some flexibility in your plans.

For current canyon status and closures, use CDOT’s Glenwood Canyon page and COtrip rather than relying on a fixed schedule.