Leaving Montrose by car often means a mountain pass

Montrose itself sits low and mild in a valley, which can fool a newcomer into thinking the driving is always easy. The catch is what surrounds it. Many of the routes out of town climb into the mountains, and a sunny day in the valley can turn into snow and ice on a pass.

In winter, those passes can fall under Colorado’s traction and chain laws. In plain terms, the state can require that your vehicle have snow tires, all-wheel drive, or chains before you are allowed to drive a stretch of highway. Passes can also close for crashes, avalanche control, or heavy snow, and a closure can add hours or reroute a trip entirely.

This is not a reason to fear the drive. It is a reason to check before you go. A quick look at the state road conditions tool will show whether a pass is open, whether traction rules are in effect, and whether weather is moving in. Keeping the right tires and some patience makes mountain travel from Montrose routine instead of stressful.

Before a winter drive over any pass, check current conditions and any chain or traction requirements with the state transportation department.