How-to
Colorado Springs Roadside Guide: I-25 and the Ute Pass Climb
If your car quits in Colorado Springs, get it as far off the road as you can. Turn on your hazards and stay buckled in. Note your road, your direction and the last exit or mile marker you passed. On I-25 or up US 24 in Ute Pass, weather can turn fast, so check COtrip or dial 511 before you wait it out. If anyone is hurt or you're stuck in a live lane, call 911 first.
Where exactly am I on I-25?
I-25 runs nearly 18 miles through the city. It enters south of Academy Boulevard and leaves north of North Gate Boulevard. That's a long stretch, and much of it looks the same at night.
Your driver needs three things to find you fast:
- Your direction. Northbound heads toward Monument and Denver. Southbound heads toward Fountain and Pueblo.
- The last exit you passed. Read it off the green sign, not your map app.
- The nearest mile marker. Look for the small posts along the shoulder.
"Northbound I-25, just past the North Gate Boulevard exit" beats "near downtown" every time. If your phone can share a pin, share that too.
North of the city, I-25 climbs Monument Hill to over 7,300 feet. The weather up there can be much worse than in town. If you break down on the hill in a storm, stay in the car with your belt on. The shoulder is the worst place to stand when trucks slide.
What changes when I head up Ute Pass?
US 24 starts as Platte Avenue in town, then climbs west through Ute Pass. It passes Manitou Springs, Cave of the Winds Road, Cascade and Green Mountain Falls on the way to Woodland Park.
That makes a breakdown up there harder than one in town:
- Mountain shoulders can be thin. You may not have room to get fully off the road.
- Cell signal can be spotty in mountain canyons. Call while you still have bars.
- The weather at the top can be very different from the weather in Old Colorado City.
Summer has its own risk. After the Waldo Canyon Fire, flooding on Ute Pass became a problem. CDOT has shut US 24 to all traffic when floodwater or debris threatened the road. Crews then sweep the closed stretch for people and cars before it reopens. If a flash flood warning goes out while you're stopped below the burn area, don't wait in a low spot by the creek. Get to higher ground and call 911 if water is rising.
Does Colorado's traction law apply to my car?
It can. CDOT can turn on its traction law or chain law on any state highway during a storm. That includes I-25 and US 24. You'll see it on highway signs and on COtrip.
When the traction law is on, your car needs one of these:
- All-wheel or four-wheel drive with mud and snow tires (marked M+S, M/S or a mountain and snowflake) and at least 3/16 inch of tread.
- All-wheel or four-wheel drive with winter tires, or tires the maker rates as all-weather, with at least 3/16 inch of tread.
- Chains or a CDOT-approved traction device, such as a tire sock.
When the chain law is on, every car needs chains or an approved device. CDOT calls this the last step before it closes the highway.
Break those rules and you can get a fine. The fine gets much bigger if your car ends up blocking a lane and closing the road. So if your tires are worn and a storm is coming, a front-wheel drive sedan is a poor choice for Ute Pass or Monument Hill. Take a different car, carry chains, or wait it out in town.
Why is my side street still snowed in?
The city plows arterials and collectors first. Those are most streets with painted stripes, the busy ones. Neighborhood streets aren't plowed until at least 6 inches of snow has fallen.
So a few inches overnight can leave your street packed and slick while the main roads are bare. That's when cars slide into curbs and get stuck on the hill out of the cul-de-sac.
The city doesn't plow I-25 or Powers Boulevard. CDOT does. You can tell the trucks apart by color:
| Plow color | Who runs it |
|---|---|
| White | City of Colorado Springs |
| Orange | CDOT, on state highways like I-25 and Powers |
| Red | El Paso County |
Stuck behind a plow? Stay back and don't stop close behind it. The driver may not see you. If you're stuck in a snowbank and a plow is coming, keep your hazards on and stay in the car.
What if I'm stranded in a storm?
The city's winter driving advice is simple, and it fits a long wait on Powers or Woodmen.
- Get the car to the side of the road if you can.
- Turn on your hazards. Tie a bright cloth to the antenna or a window.
- Stay in the car. Don't walk for help unless you can see it within 100 yards.
- Run the engine and heater in short spells each hour, not nonstop.
- Clear snow from the tailpipe now and then, and crack a window on the side away from the wind. That keeps exhaust out of the car.
The city also says to keep your gas tank as full as you can in winter. A full tank buys you heat while you wait.
Which roadside fix do I need?
The airport sees about 157 nights a year at or below freezing. Cold mornings are hard on tired batteries and low tires. Most stops here are one of these:
- Car clicks or won't crank after a cold night at the trailhead lot: a jump start.
- Flat on the shoulder of I-25 or Highway 24: a flat tire change puts on your own spare. Make sure you have one.
- Slid off into a ditch or a snowbank close to the road: a winch-out pulls you back onto solid ground.
- Won't drive at all: a tow for your car, SUV, minivan or light pickup to your home or your shop.
Four-wheel drive helps you get moving. The city points out it won't help you stop any sooner. Plenty of four-wheel drive cars end up in ditches.
How does Sentinel work?
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. We don't own trucks or run a local office. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until help arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise.
You'll get your driver's name, photo and truck by text, and you can track your truck on a map. Way up Ute Pass or on Monument Hill in a storm, partner reach can vary. We'll tell you before anything is booked. For the rest of the area, from Fountain to Black Forest, see our Colorado Springs towing page.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Colorado Springs Roadside Questions
How do I check if Ute Pass or Monument Hill is open?
Use COtrip, CDOT's road conditions site, or dial 511 from your cell phone. Both show closures and traction law alerts. CDOT also offers road alerts by text or email.
Can I get towed if my car doesn't meet the traction law?
Yes. If your car can't make it up the hill, a partner can tow it back to your home or a shop in town. You get the price by text first. Never park in a travel lane to wait.
My car was towed off the street after a snowstorm. Can you get it back?
No. Sentinel doesn't do impounds. Our Colorado Springs impound guide shows how to find your car and what to bring. If it won't start once it's released, call us for a jump or a tow.
Is it safe to wait outside my car on I-25?
Usually not. Stay inside with your belt on and your hazards going. Get out only if the car is smoking or on fire, then move well away from traffic and call 911.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: CDOT traction and chain laws, CDOT Ute Pass flooding procedures, City of Colorado Springs snow plow information, City of Colorado Springs winter driving, NOAA normals, Colorado Springs airport, COtrip.
