What this site is
Most moving advice is written for flat cities. Colorado’s mountain moves are different: passes close, trucks have to chain up, driveways are steep, and the nearest crew may be two hours away. This site is a short field guide to the parts that bite, taken from CDOT, Colorado State Patrol and other published sources, plus a form if you want quotes from movers that work these routes.
We are a referral service. We send a request to no more than three movers, each of which holds an active Colorado Public Utilities Commission household-goods permit (and USDOT registration for interstate work), carries insurance and has a BBB A+ rating. We check each one ourselves before it receives a request.
The four things that decide a mountain move
1. The pass
Moving between the Front Range and the Western Slope or the resort counties usually means I-70 and its mountain corridor. Winter rules start September 1. I-70 traction and chain rules, explained.
2. The truck
A full-size moving truck may not fit your driveway, or may not be safe on it. Crews use smaller shuttle trucks for the last stretch. Shuttles and driveways.
3. The second address
Cabin and condo moves have their own traps: empty houses, shut-off utilities, seasonal access. Second-home moves.
4. The town
Grand Junction, Steamboat Springs and the Summit County towns differ in elevation, access and winter. Town notes.
Fast answers
When does the Colorado Traction Law apply on I-70?
CDOT says it is in effect every year from September 1 through May 31 on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison, and CDOT can also activate it on other highways when conditions require.
Are commercial vehicles treated differently on I-70?
Yes. CDOT says commercial vehicles must carry chains or an approved alternative traction device on I-70 between Dotsero (mile marker 133) and Morrison (mile marker 259) from September 1 through May 31.
How do I check mountain road conditions before moving day?
CDOT publishes closures, chain-law status and cameras at cotrip.org. Check it the night before and again the morning of the move.
Sources: CDOT traction law notice, Nov 2025; Colorado State Patrol, chain law information; COtrip; FHWA I-70 fact sheet.