It'd initially been unclear if the scenic byway would reopen this season due to the pandemic.

Guanella Pass officially reopened for the season last Thursday! A 22-mile scenic byway, it passes by Mount Bierstadt and brings travelers right into Georgetown. Traversing the entire road takes roughly an hour to complete.

It initially had been unclear when the byway would reopen. Back on May 22, Clear Creek County announced, "Guanella Pass Road is typically scheduled to reopen Memorial Day Weekend, however, due to COVID-19 and the Clear Creek County Non-Resident Road closures, the opening of the Byway has been delayed."

"This well-settled road leap-frogs the steep divide between the South Platte and Clear Creek watersheds, passing through a succession of distinct environments. The lower elevations are green and wet, thick stands of spruce, fir, aspen, and pine rising along cascading creeks. Higher up, the streams snake through broad meadows, succoring thirsty mammals, nesting birds, and the industrious beaver. The road crests well above timberline, where every spring the grasses and flowers stubbornly renew, and the fragile tundra thaws and blossoms," said the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Guanella Pass will be open to hikers and bikers, who are "asked to avoid high-risk activities and be prepared for changes in weather conditions," according to reports.

The reopening of Guanella Pass also comes along with the news that the Mount Evans Highway won't be opening at all for the season. However, Rocky Mountain National Park has recently reopened, but a temporary timed-entry system is now in place to maintain social-distancing practices.

Courtesy of Colorado Department of Transportation

Will you be taking a trip down this scenic byway this summer? Let us know in the comments!