What Do You Know About Loveland Pass in Colorado?

[ATeam]

Loveland Pass (US-6 in Colorado) came to Diane's and my attention today as we researched the rules about the Eisenhower Tunnel (Colorado I-70) and HAZMAT. We were allowed to use the tunnel and thereby avoided the US-6, Loveland Pass route.

We have never been over Loveland Pass. Looking at this Google map, it appears to be an interesting road. The weather was beautiful today and part of me wanted to explore this new route. But the map suggests it might be a route best avoided.

Have you or anyone you know been over this pass? What is it like to drive that route?

 

[layoutshooter]

Loveland Pass (US-6 in Colorado) came to Diane's and my attention today as we researched the rules about the Eisenhower Tunnel (Colorado I-70) and HAZMAT. We were allowed to use the tunnel and thereby avoided the US-6, Loveland Pass route.

We have never been over Loveland Pass. Looking at this Google map, it appears to be an interesting road. The weather was beautiful today and part of me wanted to explore this new route. But the map suggests it might be a route best avoided.

Have you or anyone you know been over this pass? What is it like to drive that route?

We have driven it, in winter. It was an 'adventure' to say the least. There were 'avalanche' warning signs up every where. Roads were narrow, tight turns and crowded with skiers etc. I guess it was pretty but I did not get to enjoy it. I was driving, trying not to join the other trucks that have gone off that road and never recovered. Too steep to pull them up.

We were headed west so when we came out of the pass we were 'dumped' right into a very busy resort town. LOADS of fun. The second worst road we have driven to date.

 

[moose]

I'v sent my Dad in his motorhome RV that route back in late 2008,
he wanted to kill me .

 

[Jenny]

We did it exploring one day, just for fun to say that we did it once. NEVER AGAIN. It was 80 degrees when we started our assent, when we reached the top it was icing and snowing. Coming back down on ice was not fun at all. I am glad that I was not the one driving, then again I felt bad enough for Nick having to calm me down from the panic attacks that I was having that we were going to fall off of the road, or that rocks were going to fall on us and we would die.

 

[scottm4211]

We did it exploring one day, just for fun to say that we did it once. NEVER AGAIN. It was 80 degrees when we started our assent, when we reached the top it was icing and snowing. Coming back down on ice was not fun at all. I am glad that I was not the one driving, then again I felt bad enough for Nick having to calm me down from the panic attacks that I was having that we were going to fall off of the road, or that rocks were going to fall on us and we would die.

So how did this end? I'm on the edge of my seat here

 

[Jenny]

So how did this end? I'm on the edge of my seat here

With us in a hotel room, sitting in the hot tub to unwind. Muscles were definitely tense, Pretty sure if the door could have screamed from me holding onto it, it would have

 

[scottm4211]

You lived! :thumbsup:

 

[Rocketman]

You lived! :thumbsup:

You get really bored at home by yourself, don't ya?

 

[zorry]

I ran a bid run for Roadway in which we left Denver,went to Grand Jct for our third trl,and proceeded with up to 110,000 lbs to Vegas without Jake Brakes ! We earned our big teamster dollars.
If placcarded we were supposed to run Loveland Pass via rt 6. Many nights we couldn't maintain traction on I-70 ,much less rt 6.
There was an enterprising gentleman with a 6x6 Oshkosh or FWD that spent those nights pulling us freighthaulers over the hill at $300 a pop. He would do two at a time if really busy I heard. This was 1994 I believe.
I lost traction on rt 6. When the wrecker arrived he told me I was okay. Yellow was spun- out a mile higher up. He pulled Yellow over and came back for me.
I advise everyone to take rt 6,in June or July, in the daylight. There are NO GUARDRAILS in many places. It's a nice,interesting ride in good weather.
Three interesting facts:
1) some frt haulers are so afraid of rt 6 that they will pull their placcards and sneak thru the tunnel.
2) july 4,of the year I was on that bid saw 9 inches of snow in the region. Higher than I-70, but in an area that one resort had stuff going on.
3) if we had no third trl to pull from Grd Jct to Vegas my weekly gross would drop by 85 cents !

I went thru the tunnel with doubles six times every 2 weeks. It'd be 70 degrees when we left Denver and less than an hour later we'd be chaining up.
Chain-up season is Oct- May.
I don't miss it.

 

[pearlpro]

Funny you said there was a fellow with a 6 x 6 who used to pull folks out, I drove that way delivering 6 X 6 BOOM trucks to Utilities and towns out that way and in the winter I often supplemented my income with a strap and 6 wheel drive, that was 1994 and I pulled more then a few trucks up and over...its a scenic highway, no guard rails, incredibly steep and slippery....it can be decieving for the weather, one minute is sunny and beautiful, up and around a curve and its ice and snow and wind...If you can choose a time of the season its going to be warmer and go that way, stay off that hill from November till Feb if you dont want your butt to pucker up a seat cushion...take a camera because the vistas are breathtaking and the little resort towns very unique....

 

[jjoerger]

I drove it last year.
Thankfully my wife was asleep or we would still be talking about it.

Sent from my PG06100 using EO Forums

 

[purgoose10]

Loveland Pass (US-6 in Colorado) came to Diane's and my attention today as we researched the rules about the Eisenhower Tunnel (Colorado I-70) and HAZMAT. We were allowed to use the tunnel and thereby avoided the US-6, Loveland Pass route.

We have never been over Loveland Pass. Looking at this Google map, it appears to be an interesting road. The weather was beautiful today and part of me wanted to explore this new route. But the map suggests it might be a route best avoided.

Have you or anyone you know been over this pass? What is it like to drive that route?

I have been over it several times. 1.. Don't forget your chains and practice putting them on before you go, even in the summer, you never know. 2.. Bring a camera because it's probably one of the most picture purfect spots in America (I know we have many). It's the way we ran before they opened 70 west of Denver. After they opened 70 Wyoming outlawed triple trailers and moved that route to 70 in Colorado. ABF, CF, Yellow and a few others moved over a thousand drivers from the break terminals in Laramie to Denver and Utah. The largest transfer of line haul drivers ever. Did that within two years. If your not in a big hurry (because it will ad time on the run) you need to see it. The reason Wyoming outlawed triples is due to the high winds on Elk Mountain. The wind has collected many sets of triples.

A great place to mount a video camera on the pax side mirror and video the crossing.

 

[Doggie Daddy]

I'v sent my Dad in his motorhome RV that route back in late 2008,
he wanted to kill me .

I did that to my parents back in the 70's, told them to take the PCH in Cali. They never let me forget it.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using EO Forums

 

[zorry]

It doesn't take much to lose a set of triples.
Not as safe as people would lead you to believe. But that's a story for another day.


Disclaimer. I never had a problem. My partner,a far much better driver lost one.

 

[Dynamite 1]

we use to go up there every summer and drive the pass and all the other places up that way to see. my brother lived in denver for 20 yrs. aint many places around there we havent been. it is beautiful and ever changing. anyone remember when the big thompson river reclaimed most of its natural route back in the 70's and flooded.

 

[hossman2011]

We've got no love for Loveland pass. It's a crapshoot 10 months of the year.

 

[dabluzman1]

We had the pleasure of traveling Loveland Pass twice this year. In late April we had a hazmat load that could not pass thru the tunnel.
While it was sunny and 80 down below we climbed to over 11,000 ft and freezing temps.
The roads were clear but enormous piles of plowed snow were along both sides of the road as the mountains were covered in several feet of snow.
Not a road for the faint of heart as you will see the tops of mountains that are 8 and 9,000 feet tall directly below you as you peer over the edge.
Very dramatic views and the home to some great sking.
On the trip in June, we had to detour because a vehicle had caught fire in the southbound tunnnel, it wasnt nearly as exciting with the snow almost completely gone except for the very top of the highest peaks but the nature of the road, its sharp turns, tight lanes, twisting and winding up and down the mountains still made it an experience.
It is a detour of 3-4 hours for us.
I'd place this high on my list of roads I'd rather not travel, right along with 299 in northern California.

 

[mrgoodtude]

Don't think we have done Loveland Pass, but we had a great trip down the PCH a few times and there was this trip from Minot to Reno one year.. Hwy 12 I think

 

[mrgoodtude]

Beautiful scenery and Cyn met an over friendly deer.

 

[bobwg]

I ran a bid run for Roadway in which we left Denver,went to Grand Jct for our third trl,and proceeded with up to 110,000 lbs to Vegas without Jake Brakes ! We earned our big teamster dollars.
If placcarded we were supposed to run Loveland Pass via rt 6. Many nights we couldn't maintain traction on I-70 ,much less rt 6.
There was an enterprising gentleman with a 6x6 Oshkosh or FWD that spent those nights pulling us freighthaulers over the hill at $300 a pop. He would do two at a time if really busy I heard. This was 1994 I believe.
I lost traction on rt 6. When the wrecker arrived he told me I was okay. Yellow was spun- out a mile higher up. He pulled Yellow over and came back for me.
I advise everyone to take rt 6,in June or July, in the daylight. There are NO GUARDRAILS in many places. It's a nice,interesting ride in good weather.
Three interesting facts:
1) some frt haulers are so afraid of rt 6 that they will pull their placcards and sneak thru the tunnel.
2) july 4,of the year I was on that bid saw 9 inches of snow in the region. Higher than I-70, but in an area that one resort had stuff going on.
3) if we had no third trl to pull from Grd Jct to Vegas my weekly gross would drop by 85 cents !

I went thru the tunnel with doubles six times every 2 weeks. It'd be 70 degrees when we left Denver and less than an hour later we'd be chaining up.
Chain-up season is Oct- May.
I don't miss it.

They changed the chain law It is now Sept-May for I-70