2:52 p.m. New evacuations in northern Colorado Springs bring the total number of evacuees to 41,000.
2:44 p.m. Colorado State Patrol advising drivers headed to denver to take Highway 24 to I-70 then head west.
2:41 p.m. Firefighters on radio say Black Forest fire flaring up at Shoup and Falcon. Fire behavior increasing as winds are picking up.
2:36 p.m. Traffic nightmare in northern Colorado Springs. If you don’t need to be there, leave. Reporters, officials say it’s a parking lot through much of the area north of Woodmen Road.
After going way around the fire to the east and south, try 24 (forgot the street name) south/west all the way to cross 25 and go up Ute Pass to 67 right out of Woodland Park, then up to the Denver area (Santa Fe drive). See my last comment before this one. About a 3-3 1/2-hour drive to the Denver area (will put you up near Littleton, Lakewood, etc.). Slower driving on 67 but easy. Get whatever you need in Woodland. Once heading north from Woodland, though, that is a pleasant way around traffic.
Look at the interactive map on the Gazette page behind the link above this thread. Also try MapQuest.com for map info.
There’s also 24 to 9 to the resorts, but this is the way the smoke is blowing. Out to do those chores now. ;-)