See the summit before you drive it. Live CDOT cameras and real-time conditions on I-70 over Vail Pass, the high, exposed crossing between Copper Mountain and Vail on Colorado's busiest mountain corridor.
USDA SNOTEL station Copper Mountain, 10,500 ft, about 3 miles from the summit. Depth and temperature are hourly readings from the station, not the resort's report.
Reading the station.
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CDOT plow positions within the map radius, updated about every minute. Parked and idle trucks are listed too.
Every camera in the feed on this stretch. Tap one to load its latest frame.
Vail Pass carries I-70 over the Gore Range at 10,662 ft. Here's what to watch, and when it bites.
Vail Pass sits well above treeline on both approaches, so it takes the full force of Rocky Mountain storms with little wind protection. Heavy snow, whiteouts, and avalanche control work close I-70 here several times most winters, sometimes for hours at a stretch. It's also one of the most crash-prone stretches on the corridor when a storm hits during peak ski traffic.
Unlike the tunneled crossing at the Eisenhower Tunnel 40 miles east, Vail Pass is a fully exposed summit. The highway climbs into open alpine terrain with no tree cover to block wind and blowing snow. That's why it's often the first part of the Denver-to-Vail drive to see a chain law or full closure when a storm rolls in.
The live map above shows active closures and incidents on I-70 over the pass, straight from CDOT. See the whole route on the I-70 corridor page or the US closures map. Vail Pass closes for avalanche control and heavy snow several times most winters.
CDOT sets traction and chain law restrictions on I-70 over the summit, and they change fast in a storm. This is one of the more frequently restricted stretches on the corridor. Watch the live cameras above and follow posted signs.
10,662 feet, lower than the Eisenhower Tunnel 40 miles east, but more exposed to wind and blowing snow since it's an open summit, not a tunnel.
About 100 miles west on I-70. Track your mile marker over the summit with the MileCheck app on CarPlay or Android Auto.
The Snowplows list above shows CDOT plow positions within the map radius, updated about every minute. The map draws each one as an arrow pointing the way it is heading. Parked trucks are listed too.
MileCheck shows your exact mile marker in real time as you drive I-70 over Vail Pass, plus the nearest camera and any alert on your route. Works offline and runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.
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