WYDOT closes Battle Pass and Snowy Range for the winter

Two mountain passes in southeastern Wyoming are now closed for the winter.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation closed Battle Pass (WYO 70) and Snowy Range (WYO 130) on Monday, Nov. 28 for the season because of snowy conditions.

“We got about 2 ½ feet to 3 feet of snow on both passes,” said Tim McGary, district maintenance engineer in Laramie. “Those passes will now be closed until the spring.”

Battle Pass is between Baggs and Encampment, while the Snow Range is between Centennial and Saratoga.

WYDOT works to keep the passes open as long as it can, but then closes them in the winter when snowfall amounts become too much where typical snowplows can’t get through the snow.

This closure for the season resulted after snowstorms on Saturday and Sunday left high accumulations.

The passes will reopen in the spring after crews bring snowplows, dozers and other heavy equipment to remove the snow.

Besides Battle Pass and Snowy Range, WYDOT seasonally closes US 14A between Burgess Junction and Lovell because of snow.