The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is advising drivers to prepare for significant traffic congestion along major mountain routes this weekend due to increased leaf-peeping activity. CDOT expects both eastbound and westbound travel on the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor to be heavily impacted, with similar conditions anticipated on US Highway 285, particularly between South Park and Denver as travelers head toward Kenosha Pass.
According to CDOT data from the same weekend in 2024, traffic volumes were among the highest recorded during the fall season. At the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels, CDOT implemented metering for 11 and a half hours—from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.—to manage vehicle flow and maintain safety. During peak times at noon, nearly 3,000 vehicles per hour passed through the tunnels. Eastbound travelers returning home faced delays that lasted well past 10 p.m.
Westbound drivers also encountered significant morning delays, typically beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing until about 5 p.m., between Evergreen and Georgetown. This pattern is unusual for this time of year and was primarily caused by an influx of day-trippers seeking fall foliage in higher elevations.
Additional congestion occurred on Guanella Pass between Georgetown and Grant, where traffic backups extended for miles through Georgetown and onto the interstate.
Recent observations from September 19 through September 21 show that Friday evening saw peak traffic at around 6 p.m., while speeds near Floyd Hill dropped into single digits from noon until 7 p.m. On Saturday, heavy traffic persisted between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., with Sunday experiencing slowdowns throughout most of the day peaking at around 11 a.m.
“Leaf Peeping Safety Tips:”
