Abo Pass
📍 US-60 • Manzano MountainsCurrent Road Condition
Open. Traverses Abo Canyon and Manzano Mountains on US-60. Maintained year-round by NMDOT crews.
Abo Pass road conditionsNew Mexico Pass Status Directory
Data Source: New Mexico DOT (NMDOT 511)Apache Gap
📍 NM-185 / NM-26 • Southern New MexicoCurrent Road Condition
Open. Connects Hatch Valley to Deming and Las Cruces. Maintained year-round with clear driving conditions.
Apache Gap open or closedEmory Pass
📍 NM-152 • Black Range (Gila Forest)Current Road Condition
Open. Winding scenic highway across Gila Wilderness. NMDOT snowplow cleared; winter snow advisories in effect during storms.
Emory Pass road conditionsGlorieta Pass
📍 Interstate 25 (I-25) • Sangre de CristoCurrent Road Condition
Open. Historic Santa Fe Trail interstate pass. Continuous 24/7 NMDOT winter maintenance and liquid anti-icing.
Glorieta Pass open or closedGuadalupe Pass
📍 US-62 / US-180 • Guadalupe MountainsCurrent Road Condition
Open. Connects Carlsbad, NM to El Paso, TX. Subject to extreme crosswinds exceeding 65 mph; wind warning signs active.
Guadalupe Pass road conditionsRaton Pass
📍 Interstate 25 (I-25) • NM/CO BorderCurrent Road Condition
Open. Major Rocky Mountain interstate pass. Joint NMDOT & CDOT 24/7 snowplowing, de-icing sprayers, and chain laws.
Raton Pass open or closedTijeras Pass / Canyon
📍 Interstate 40 (I-40) • Sandia CrestCurrent Road Condition
Open. Connects Albuquerque to East Mountain communities. High NMDOT winter priority with continuous anti-icing sprayers.
Tijeras Pass open or closedU.S. 60 Salt Gap
📍 US-60 • Continental DivideCurrent Road Condition
Open. High-altitude highway gap across Catron County west of Socorro. Maintained year-round with NMDOT winter patrols.
U.S. 60 Salt Gap open or closedWilkerson Pass / Palo Flechado
📍 US-64 • Sangre de Cristo RangeCurrent Road Condition
Open. High mountain pass on Enchanted Circle Byway. Heavy winter snowpack; NMDOT chain advisories & snowplows active.
Wilkerson Pass open or closedBobcat Pass
📍 NM-38 • Sangre de Cristo RangeCurrent Road Condition
Open. Highest paved mountain pass in New Mexico connecting Red River to Eagle Nest. Maintained year-round by NMDOT.
Bobcat Pass road conditionsCloudcroft Pass / Sunspot
📍 US-82 / NM-6563 • Sacramento MountainsCurrent Road Condition
Open. Ascends from Tularosa Basin into high alpine pine forests. NMDOT winter plowing and chain advisories in effect.
Cloudcroft Pass road conditionsJemez Mountain Summit
📍 NM-4 • Jemez MountainsCurrent Road Condition
Open. Traverses Valles Caldera National Preserve connecting Los Alamos to Jemez Springs. NMDOT snow clearing active.
Jemez Mountain road conditionsApache Summit
📍 US-70 • Sacramento MountainsCurrent Road Condition
Open. Major 4-lane arterial across Mescalero Apache Reservation serving Ruidoso. Maintained 24/7 by NMDOT.
Apache Summit road conditionsContinental Divide Pass
📍 US-60 • Continental DivideCurrent Road Condition
Open. High elevation Continental Divide highway pass on US-60. Open year-round with regular NMDOT maintenance.
Continental Divide Pass road conditionsRed River Pass
📍 NM-38 • Sangre de Cristo RangeCurrent Road Condition
Open. Ascends Red River Canyon along Enchanted Circle Byway. Maintained year-round for ski and resort traffic.
Red River Pass road conditionsComprehensive New Mexico Mountain Pass Live Status Table
Quick overview of all 15 major mountain summits and passes across New Mexico with route, elevation, and winter status.
| Pass / Summit Name | Highway Route | Elevation | Mountain Range / Region | Winter Status | NMDOT Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat Pass | NM-38 | 9,820 ft (2,993 m) | Sangre de Cristo Range | Open | NMDOT Highest Paved Summit |
| Wilkerson Pass / Palo Flechado | US-64 | 9,107 ft (2,776 m) | Sangre de Cristo Range | Open | NMDOT Angel Fire Patrol |
| Red River Pass | NM-38 | 9,100 ft (2,774 m) | Sangre de Cristo Range | Open | NMDOT Ski Resort Priority |
| Emory Pass | NM-152 | 8,828 ft (2,691 m) | Black Range (Gila) | Open | NMDOT Hillsboro District |
| Cloudcroft Pass / Sunspot | US-82 / NM-6563 | 8,650 ft (2,637 m) | Sacramento Mountains | Open | NMDOT Otero County Station |
| Jemez Mountain Summit | NM-4 | 8,400 ft (2,560 m) | Jemez Mountains | Open | NMDOT Sandoval County Patrol |
| Raton Pass | Interstate 25 (I-25) | 7,834 ft (2,388 m) | NM/CO State Border | Open | Joint NMDOT & CDOT Priority |
| Continental Divide Pass | US-60 | 7,796 ft (2,376 m) | Continental Divide | Open | NMDOT Catron County Patrol |
| Apache Summit | US-70 | 7,650 ft (2,332 m) | Sacramento Mountains | Open | NMDOT Ruidoso Maintenance |
| U.S. 60 Salt Gap | US-60 | 7,550 ft (2,302 m) | Catron High Desert | Open | NMDOT Socorro District |
| Glorieta Pass | Interstate 25 (I-25) | 7,432 ft (2,265 m) | Sangre de Cristo Range | Open | NMDOT Santa Fe Station |
| Tijeras Pass / Canyon | Interstate 40 (I-40) | 7,000 ft (2,134 m) | Sandia Crest | Open | NMDOT Albuquerque Priority |
| Abo Pass | US-60 | 6,420 ft (1,957 m) | Manzano Mountains | Open | NMDOT Torrance Patrol |
| Guadalupe Pass | US-62 / US-180 | 5,695 ft (1,736 m) | Guadalupe Mountains | Open | NMDOT High-Wind Advisory Station |
| Apache Gap | NM-185 / NM-26 | 4,850 ft (1,478 m) | Southern NM Basin | Open | NMDOT Hatch Maintenance |
New Mexico Winter Driving & High-Wind Travel Regulations (NMDOT)
During winter snowstorms and spring wind events, New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) enforces travel advisories, tire chain laws, and high-wind truck warnings across interstate and high-altitude mountain corridors.
Tire Chain & Traction Requirements
During severe winter storms on Raton Pass (I-25), Tijeras Canyon (I-40), and Wilkerson Pass (US-64), NMDOT mandates snow tires or tire chains on commercial trucks and non-4WD vehicles.
Guadalupe Pass High Wind Warnings
US-62/180 through Guadalupe Pass frequently experiences severe crosswinds exceeding 65 mph. High-profile vehicles, light trailers, and RVs are advised to delay travel during red flag wind warnings.
Frequently Asked Questions — New Mexico Mountain Passes
Answers to common traveler questions regarding New Mexico pass road conditions, winter mountain driving, and real-time NMDOT 511 verification.
The highest paved highway pass in New Mexico is Bobcat Pass on NM-38 along the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, reaching an elevation of 9,820 feet (2,993 m). It remains open year-round under active NMDOT snowplow clearing.
Yes. Raton Pass on Interstate 25 at the NM/CO border (elevation 7,834 ft) is a critical interstate freight corridor. NMDOT and CDOT operate joint 24/7 snowplow fleets and anti-icing sprayers to maintain traffic flow.
Unlike upper Cascade or Sierra passes, all primary highway mountain passes in New Mexico (including Tijeras, Glorieta, Emory, and Wilkerson) are maintained year-round by NMDOT. Temporary closures occur only during active blizzard clearance.
LivePassWatch monitors real-time feeds from NMDOT. Drivers can also check NMRoads.com (NMDOT 511) or dial 511 within New Mexico for live weather camera feeds and chain advisories.