When's Winter?

[Murdy]

I was looking at Route 306 going west from Buena Vista on Google Maps, and it's marked "Closed Winters." When, on the average does winter start in an area like this? When would the road typically be shut down?

[Colorado Cowboy]

Not to be a smart ass, but whenever it wants to be. Actually I'm sure if you called CDOT or the State Hwy Patrol they could tell you.

Around here the County, BLM & USFS stop maintaining the roads by about the first of November, as they depend a lot on part time summer help. In the case of the feds, their help is gone by early Oct. My neighbor does road work for them and has every winter off. Also around here they lockup a lot of the FS roads once winter gets here, too much damage from wheeled vehicles when they are muddy.

[BKC]

That is Cottonwood pass. I'm sure oldhunter will chime in on this, since this is his stomping grounds.

[Murdy]

"Not to be a smart ass, but whenever it wants to be."
I certainly understand that. I grew up in northern Wisconsin, and it could be anytime from early October to Thanksgiving -- knew I wasn't going to get a precise answer, lol.
Thanks, though, that gives me a bit of an idea.

[Colorado Cowboy]

My real point was a lot of times the agencies locally will close roads on a time schedule regardless of the weather. Because it's a state hwy, calling CDOT would get a realtime answer. The best I can do is give you the local region's CDOT number in Durango (970) 385-8360. If they don't have what you want, I'm sure they could give you the number of the regional office of that area when you need information.

[Murdy]

Understood. And thank you for the info, I'll give them a call.

[Murdy]

Called around a little and ended up talking to the State Police in Buena Vista. The officer said when the road closes does depend on the weather, and that late October to early November is typical.

[Old Hunter]

I'm late to this. Yes, I live in BV. Last year was early November, but that's not normal. I've also seen late September, but that's not normal either. Sometime in October would be the average.

[xtreme]

My son and grandson came from Taylor park friday, in an RV, they said the road had been graded thursday. Still rough near the top of Cottonwood Pass

[Old Hunter]

It's nice in early summer. By the time hunting season comes it's washboard again.