Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass is a high mountain pass in north-central Colorado, at an elevation of above sea level in the Rocky Mountains of the Western United States.
Background
It is located on the Continental Divide in the Front Range, west of Denver on U.S. Highway 6. The twisty road is considered to be especially treacherous during the winter months. A steep, steady 6.7% grade, along with numerous hairpin turns on either side, make it difficult to snowplow the road regularly.The pass is named for William A.H. Loveland, the president of the Colorado Central Railroad and a resident of Golden during the late 19th century. The city of Loveland, in Larimer County near Fort Collins, is also named after him.
The first usable trail over the pass was completed in 1879. While W.A.H. Loveland had been instrumental in raising funds to build the road, work was largely completed by Union Pacific, a small number of Colorado Central Railroad employees, the Bakersville and Leadville Toll Road Company, and the High Line Toll Road Company. Surveying was done by E.L. Berthoud, assisted by T.J Milner. The pass was in disrepair by the early 1900s, but was never completely abandoned. Towards the end of 1929, a modern dirt road was nearly completed, and in 1930 the road was good enough for commercial use. Construction would continue, and in 1932 a grand opening was held. This was still a dirt road at that point. Paving would be completed in 1949-1950.
Loveland is the highest mountain pass in Colorado that regularly stays open during a snowy winter season. When the Eisenhower Tunnel opened in March 1973, it allowed motorists on Interstate 70 to avoid crossing the pass directly. Trucks that cannot pass through the tunnel must still take US 6 across Loveland Pass, above the tunnel. The same is true for bicyclists, pedestrians, and those drivers who wish to stop along the road to admire the scenery.
Loveland Ski Area is located north west of the pass, and Arapahoe Basin is on the south/southeast side. The pass itself is a popular destination for backcountry skiers. Occasionally during the winter, the pass road may be closed by a blizzard and all traffic must use the tunnel, even the normally forbidden vehicles carrying hazardous materials. In the event of less serious winter storms, chain restrictions are often imposed. At the Loveland Pass parking lot, visitors can access trails to the summits of Mount Sniktau and other nearby mountain peaks.