Don’t Spend Your Weekend on I-70

No one likes to sit in traffic, especially on the weekends, and the elitism that is seen in the sport of skiing is amplified when the anxiety around traffic is added. When looking for tips on online forums, I was met with comments such as, “Please, no one give away the shortcuts,” and “Yeah, no. Why would we want to create more traffic.” While many were protective of their workarounds and shortcuts to get up i-70, the zig-zags across frontage roads and through neighborhoods save very little time and impact the residents of those areas.

Skiing and snowboarding are one of the biggest draws to the state. Approximately 14 million people utilized Colorado mountain resorts during the 2023/2024 season, which was an arid and warm year. With the Farmer’s Almanac predicting a colder and wetter winter, visitation to the mountains could boom. While this would bolster the country’s economy, it would also put more stress on the roads and the existing traffic problem.

Stacia Sellers, the Strategic Communications Lead of Major Projects and Operations at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), has much to consider when finding shortcuts to the mountains. “It is hard to say what weather conditions will look like on alternate routes. So we know that [Highway] 285 to Highway 9 is a popular detour route for many folks. So the issue with those corridors is that they also have unique terrain and weather conditions, especially as you’re passing over Kenosha Pass into the Fairplay area.”

While shortcuts are not a realistic time saver, there are many ways to make the most of a ski day and reduce time spent stuck on the road.

What is the Deal with Ski Traffic?

Infrastructure

To better understand the problem with ski traffic, it is essential to understand what is happening on the road. Stacia Sellers, the Strategic Communications Lead of Major Projects and Operations at the CDOT, explains, “We have a lot of really great ski resorts. We have a lot of great snow that comes in over the winter season, making it appealing for people to come and visit Colorado. We’ve also seen a huge influx in population, so many folks are moving out here up into the mountains or even in the Denver metro area and are using I-70 to get up to the mountains for a weekend getaway.”

Furthering the problem, Colorado’s winding mountain roads were not built for heavy traffic, with fewer lanes on the interstate than seen in major cities. Additional lane closures due to weather or accidents can cause multiple hours’ worth of delays and further congestion.

Tunnels

The Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT) is a notable place for traffic delays. If the conditions are better, eastbound and westbound travelers can be backed up for quite a while. Sellers explains, “Eisenhower is a unique piece of infrastructure because you could be driving in sunny conditions on the east side of the tunnel and then head over and then exit on the west side of the tunnel and it’s snowing or vice versa, so that can create some challenges during winter weather events that can cause some traffic.” Sellers goes on to explain that CDOT also practices traffic metering on the west side of the tunnel. “This helps us to prevent an influx of cars from coming into the tunnel and everybody coming to a dead stop.”  With the tunnel being almost two miles long, it can be difficult for emergency vehicles to enter it if it is at a dead stop; the metering, while causing slowdowns on the pass, can prevent a worse disaster inside the tunnel.

Floyd Hill

Another area of notorious slow traffic is Floyd Hill. Located just past Morrison, where north, south, and east traffic combines, the interstate goes from three lanes to just two.  This merging leads to a significant slowdown and congestion as travelers fight to gain a further spot in line. CDOT is well aware of this issue and is working on a solution. Sellers explain, “We are doing an I-70 Floyd Hill project, so we’re going to be straightening out that curve, making the merge from US-6 to I-70 better to help eliminate that bottleneck, so that’s going to increase the flow of traffic.”

Avalanche Mitigation and Plowing

Dealing with winter conditions is a full-time job for CDOT in the winter. Heavy snow, sunbaked slopes, and wind can lead to the need to plow roads and conduct avalanche mitigation. Sellers explains, “We try to get the mitigation done as early in the morning as possible so as not to impact traffic. Of course, Mother Nature always has a mind of its own, so we might have to do mitigation later in the day based on what we’re seeing and what kind of snowfall is happening. Motorists traveling up during mitigation, of course, always encourage folks to practice patience as we do that. Really, for the safety of motorists, the last thing we want to see is a natural slide that we could have prevented.” Mitigation can occur on I-70, as well as Loveland and Berthoud Passes.

Short Cuts

If one chooses to utilize potential shortcuts, it is crucial to have winter supplies and plenty of gas, as amenities will be along the route.

Avoid Peak Hours

According to data from CDOT, traffic has increased by three to five percent in the past decade, with slowdowns starting as early as six in the morning. Traffic also hits a significant peak at four in the afternoon when the resorts close, with travelers spending anywhere from an hour and a half to six hours to make the regular sixty-seven-minute drive from Dillon to C-470.

Adjust your travel time.

With resorts operating at similar times, finding the perfect time to make the drive can feel futile. However, there are options to make the most of the ski day and spend time somewhere besides I-70. Leaving for the slopes earlier or later than the 6:30-9 am window can help avoid sitting in traffic, especially on a day when there is new snow and big crowds.

Ski Uphill

The COVID-19 pandemic forced skiers to get creative, causing a surge in backcountry and in-resort uphill skiing, with twenty-seven percent of skiers and riders reporting increasing their non-lift service skiing since 2019. Many resorts have leaned into this change and created designated uphill skiing areas that can be accessed before the resort opens for the day. Many i-70 resorts offer uphill access with an additional fee, accessible with a season pass or in exchange for a waiver or class. Leaning into the endurance-minded renaissance, many resorts also offer early-morning uphill races to get the blood flowing before a day of work or skiing.

Requirements and access are as follows:

Arapahoe Basin: Skiers and riders can access the mountain outside operating hours with a $29 add-on to an existing pass or a $119 season pass. The mountain also hosts an early morning race series, the Rise and Shine Rando Race, starting at 7 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Aspen Snowmass: For a $69 season pass, uphill athletes get access to the four mountains between 5:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Dogs can even join their human companions on some uphill laps, as long as it is outside operating hours. The resorts also offer the Aspen Snowmass Skimo race series at 5 p.m. at their Buttermilk Resort.

Breckenridge/ Keystone/ Vail/ Beaver Creek: These resorts advertise similar policies with the same parent company. While they do not charge for an uphill pass, they require uphill users to purchase a parking pass, which cannot be used during operating hours or between 2 am and 6 am. Call (970) 754-1023 before skiing to get a list of open uphill trails and terrain.

Loveland Ski Area

Copper Mountain: Copper Mountain charges $79 for an uphill season pass and offers two sets of uphill routes, one during operating hours and another before/ after the resort opens. Skiers and riders using this pass can be on the trails as late as 10 p.m. and as early as 5 a.m. The Town of Frisco hosts the Mammut Uphill Race Series on Saturday mornings at Copper Mountain.

Eldora: For IKON or Eldora season pass holders, the uphill pass is free; however, it is $99 for someone not purchasing the downhill pass. Similar to Copper Mountain, Eldora offers routes for both before hours (7-9 am) and another for operating hours. Eldora holds a Rise and Grind uphill race series at 7 am on Wednesday mornings.

Loveland: For $50 for an uphill season pass, Loveland allows uphill access from 7 am to 5 pm Monday through Thursday.

Winter Park: Winter Park/ Mary Jane have historically offered uphill options, though their policies are currently under consideration. The resort does offer three moonlit uphill tours during the season.

To avoid heavy traffic, endurance-minded athletes can climb the mountains early or stay late to complete some human-powered laps on quieter slopes.

Support the Local Economy

Garrett Miller, a skier living in Golden, reports that he and his family have alternated between the IKON and Epic for several years. Last year, they primarily skied at Steamboat. With a pre-teen and a teenager; they make it a fun day for the family. “We’ll drive the Steamboat; It takes about two hours and five minutes. We’ll get up (7:35) early, we’ll go to Kremlin, we’ll stop there and get some breakfast, maybe change out of our pajamas and then you can get the Steamboat. Perhaps we get there a little bit later, but we’ll ski till they close and we’ll take our time coming home. Sometimes, if it’s a little earlier, we’ll stop in Silverthorne and get dinner.” With this schedule, Miller explains that he and his family are usually home by 8:30 pm without sitting in traffic following this schedule.

Spending money in the smaller mountain towns can make a massive difference for smaller restaurants, and while it might get one home sooner, it can make the day more enjoyable.

Ski Weekdays: Work from the Mountain

With Wi-Fi available in most mountain base lodges, the work-hard, play-hard mentality can be experienced on the same day. To avoid weekend traffic, you can load up your computer and split the day between hitting the slopes and the keyboard. Some resorts have leaned into this concept, creating co-working spaces. Copper Mountain, Eldora, Steamboat, Winter Park, Vail, and Breckenridge have designated work areas where a skier or rider can take a break from the snow and have a quiet, concentrated workplace.

Sam Bass, the marketing director at Eldora Mountain Resort, speaks to their co-working space, explaining that they might encourage the practice with so many people working remotely and already utilizing the free Wi-Fi. “Adam Kroll was a skier who noticed many people working from the base and offered to start a co-working collective. Everyone meets in a certain part of a lodge to work. It creates a safe space where you can leave your computer for a little bit while you ski, then come back and work.” For many who work from home, this can be a great opportunity to skip out on weekend traffic while meeting other athletes.

Get Environmentally Friendly

When sitting in traffic, it is essential to remember that we are the traffic. The best way to reduce traffic is to minimize the number of cars on the road. Carpooling and existing public transportation are a great place to start.

Carpool

The slopes are filled with weekend skiers, and likely, many are unknowingly neighbors. Diving into a local community to find someone to carpool with is a great way to eliminate one more car on the road. While you might need to pay to leave your vehicle at an RTD Park n Ride, parking at the Eldorado Canyon or the Wooly Mammoth lots is free.

Snowstang/ Pegasus

Snowstang is the bus from the front range/ Denver metro area to the mountains, while Pegasus is the in-town shuttle. Bob Wilson, the Statewide Communications Manager for CDOT, explains, “One bus is not going to remove tons of vehicles, but every little bit helps, especially when you’re in a situation like we are here in this state. Then, in turn, the bus also removes a lot of carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses. Plus, it can make for a relaxing ride.” Wilson goes on to say that the buses have outlets to charge devices and can give a tired passenger a chance to rest after a day of skiing or riding instead of being an unsafe driver.

Snowstang stops at Loveland, Arapaho Basin, Copper Mountain, and Breckenridge and runs most weekends between mid-December and May.

The Winter Park Express

Rocketdawg25, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In true old-west spirit, Amtrack also offers the Winter Park Express, a train that runs from Union Station to Winter Park Resort every day of the week. With this system, out-of-town travelers can ride from the airport to the mountain with one transfer, never having to rent a car.

Stay Local

A surefire way to avoid traffic on I-70 is to skip the corridor altogether. Fortunately, Colorado has many options, especially within an hour of Boulder County.

Eldora

Eldora Mountain Resort sits thirty-seven minutes from downtown Boulder, with an option to take a bus and skip the drive. While less expansive than some of the more notable resorts, Eldora is an excellent home mountain for families or laid-back skiers. Bass states, “It is not a production like going to a bigger mountain further west would be coming from the Front Range. You don’t have to worry about traffic, the high costs of gas or parking, or other associated headaches with traveling farther into the mountains. It is also really family friendly.” Bass says that his kids learned to ski at Eldora, and he always felt safe letting them ski independently since it was such a close community.

Eldora is expanding and building a new lodge, Caribou, to allow guests to spread out and enjoy a peaceful day at a local resort.

Cross Country and Backcountry

There is more than one way to climb a mountain; lifts are only sometimes needed. Beyond uphill skiing at a resort, there are also opportunities to learn and grow in the sport of backcountry closer to home. Areas such as James Peak Wilderness, Indian Peaks, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Allenspark are all fantastic places for skiers of all abilities. Before traveling in the backcountry, be sure to take a course in avalanche safety and make a plan to ski safely.

With the state continuing to grow and a cold winter ahead, ski traffic is going nowhere. However, there are ways to avoid spending your weekend alone in your car. With public transportation, creative timing, and leaning into the community, there are opportunities to make the situation better.