Lizard Head Pass is the year-round road south of Telluride, weather and all

If you’re heading south from Telluride toward Rico, Dolores, and Cortez, your road is Highway 145 over Lizard Head Pass. It’s a high mountain pass, and it’s the everyday route — not a summer-only shortcut.

The pass stays open year-round, but “open year-round” doesn’t mean trouble-free. Conditions up there can change fast: clear pavement, then ice, then blowing snow, sometimes within a few miles. The state runs avalanche-control work above parts of this stretch, and to do that safely, crews close the road for short windows while they trigger and clear slides. Winter maintenance can also briefly stop traffic.

What this means for you is simple: plan for weather and for the chance of a short delay or closure, especially in winter and during storms. Carry what you’d want if you got held up — and don’t assume a quick clear drive just because the pass is technically open.

Before a winter trip over Lizard Head Pass, check current conditions and any closures on Colorado’s official road site, COtrip, and follow CDOT guidance for mountain travel and traction.