What closes Snake Pass?

What causes Snake Pass to close?

There is no single reason why Snake Pass closes. The A57 crosses high, exposed ground between Glossop and Ladybower Reservoir, and different parts of the road are vulnerable to weather, unstable ground, accidents and maintenance work.

The main causes of Snake Pass closures are:

• Snow and ice
• Landslips and ground movement
• Severe weather and storm damage
• Road traffic accidents and emergency incidents
• Planned roadworks, maintenance and investigations

Some of these closures, particularly roadworks, may be announced days or weeks ahead. Weather and accident closures can happen much more quickly, which is why it is important to check whether Snake Pass is open immediately before travelling.

Snow and ice

Snow and ice are among the best-known reasons for Snake Pass to close, particularly during winter.

Derbyshire County Council describes the 12-mile Snake Road section of the A57 as one of the highest roads in the Peak District and says weather conditions along the route can be extreme during winter.

The council also says Snake Pass is often one of the first roads in Derbyshire to be closed because of snow and ice.

This is partly because conditions on the high Pennine section can be significantly worse than they are in Glossop, Sheffield or the valleys around Ladybower. Snow can settle on higher ground while roads at lower elevations remain clear.

Drifting snow, freezing road surfaces and poor visibility can all make the route unsafe.

Does Snake Pass get gritted?

Yes. Snake Pass is a priority primary gritting route for Derbyshire County Council.

Gritting helps reduce the risk from frost and ice, but it does not mean that the road can always remain open. Heavy snowfall can cover a treated road quickly, while strong winds can cause snow to drift back across the carriageway.

If conditions become unsafe, the road can still be closed even after gritting and snow-clearing operations have taken place.

Why does Snake Pass close before it snows?

Snake Pass can sometimes be closed before the worst weather actually arrives.

When significant snow is forecast, authorities may take the decision to close exposed Peak District roads before conditions deteriorate. This reduces the risk of vehicles becoming stranded and allows highways teams and emergency services to operate more safely.

For example, Snake Pass was proactively closed in January 2026 ahead of heavy snowfall forecast during Storm Goretti.

This means a road can be open when a journey is planned but closed by the time a driver reaches it, particularly during rapidly changing winter weather.

Landslips and ground movement

Landslips are one of the biggest long-term threats to Snake Pass.

The road runs across steep slopes and difficult geology, and ground movement has affected Snake Pass for many decades.

Derbyshire County Council currently identifies four significant landslip locations along the route:

• Doctor's Gate
• Alport
• Gillott Hey
• Wood Cottage

Ground movement can damage both the surface of the road and the structure beneath it. Cracks, sinking sections of carriageway and movement of retaining structures can make it unsafe for normal traffic.

Sometimes the road has to close completely. In other cases, traffic management such as temporary traffic lights, lower speed limits and vehicle restrictions can allow Snake Pass to remain open while damaged sections are monitored.

Why are there landslips on Snake Pass?

Snake Pass combines several factors that make ground movement particularly difficult to manage.

The road crosses steep Pennine terrain with complex underlying geology. Prolonged or heavy rainfall can increase the amount of water in the ground, which can contribute to unstable slopes moving.

Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin caused major damage in February 2022. Derbyshire County Council said ground movement damaged the road surface and foundations at Gillott Hey, Wood Cottage and Alport.

At one point, a section of the verge dropped by around two metres. The road was closed while the council monitored the unstable ground and carried out work to make the route safe enough to reopen.

The 7.5-tonne Snake Pass weight restriction

The landslips have also resulted in a 7.5-tonne weight restriction being introduced on Snake Pass.

Heavy goods vehicles over the weight limit are directed onto a signed alternative route. The restriction is intended to reduce additional pressure on sections of the road affected by ground movement.

Temporary traffic lights and reduced speed limits have also been used at landslip locations so that vehicles can pass damaged sections in a controlled way.

These restrictions demonstrate that a landslip does not always mean the whole pass has to close. Where engineers consider it safe, restrictions can sometimes keep the road open while a longer-term repair is developed.

Severe weather, high winds and storm damage

Severe weather can affect Snake Pass in ways other than snow and ice.

The road is highly exposed in places, particularly around the higher sections of the route. Strong winds can make conditions more difficult for motorcyclists, caravans and high-sided vehicles and can contribute to drifting snow during winter.

Storms can also bring heavy rain, fallen branches, damaged trees and flooding or drainage problems.

Importantly, high winds do not automatically mean Snake Pass will close. Unlike snow and ice, there is no widely published wind-speed threshold at which the council routinely shuts the road.

A closure would depend on the conditions and whether there was a specific safety risk, such as fallen trees, debris, poor visibility or other storm damage.

Heavy rain can contribute to landslips

Heavy rainfall is particularly important on Snake Pass because of its relationship with ground movement.

After very heavy rain associated with Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin in February 2022, landslips affected several sections of the road and forced a major closure.

This means exceptionally wet weather can create problems even when there is no snow or ice.

The condition of the ground can also continue to change after the worst weather has passed, so landslip-related closures may last considerably longer than the storm that caused or contributed to the damage.

Accidents and emergency incidents

Road traffic accidents are another reason Snake Pass can close without warning.

The A57 has steep gradients, numerous bends and relatively few places where traffic can be diverted around an incident once vehicles are already on the pass.

A serious collision may therefore result in the road being closed in both directions while police, ambulance, fire and rescue services attend.

On 7 July 2026, for example, Snake Pass was closed in both directions between Glossop and Bamford following a collision involving a motorcycle and a car. Emergency services attended and a motorcyclist was taken to hospital.

Another serious motorcycle collision caused a temporary closure near Bamford in June 2026.

How long does Snake Pass close after an accident?

There is no fixed closure time after a collision.

A relatively minor incident may be cleared quickly. A more serious crash can require medical treatment, vehicle recovery, debris clearance, investigation work and checks that the road is safe before it reopens.

Because emergency closures are unpredictable, estimated reopening times can change as an incident develops.

Roadworks and planned maintenance

Not all Snake Pass closures are emergencies.

Derbyshire County Council also closes sections of the A57 for planned roadworks, resurfacing, drainage work, retaining wall repairs, tree work, safety improvements and investigations into the ongoing landslips.

These closures are usually announced in advance and may be overnight, last for several days or, for major projects, continue for several weeks.

Planned closures are often used to complete several types of maintenance at the same time, reducing the need for additional future closures.

The 2026 Doctor's Gate closure

A good example of a planned closure took place between 15 June and 3 July 2026.

Snake Pass was closed between Glossop and Ladybower Reservoir for three weeks while Derbyshire County Council carried out detailed investigations at the Doctor's Gate landslip.

Two drilling rigs were used to create boreholes around 10 metres deep so engineers could investigate the soil and rock below the road and develop options for a permanent repair.

Because the drilling equipment completely blocked the carriageway, the road had to close to motorised traffic.

The council used the closure to carry out other work too, including pothole repairs, drainage improvements and safety barrier work.

Can wildfires close Snake Pass?

Yes. Incidents away from the road itself can sometimes force the A57 to close.

In May 2026, Snake Pass was closed between Glossop and Ladybower while emergency services responded to a large moorland wildfire.

Fires close to the road can cause problems including smoke, poor visibility and the need to provide safe access for emergency vehicles.

Wildfire closures are relatively unusual compared with winter weather, landslips and road accidents, but they demonstrate why Snake Pass can occasionally close for reasons that are difficult to predict.

Who decides to close Snake Pass?

The Snake Pass section of the A57 is managed by Derbyshire County Council, which is the local highway authority for the road.

Derbyshire County Council can introduce road closures and traffic restrictions for highway safety, maintenance, landslips and planned works.

Derbyshire Police may also close or control the road during collisions, emergencies or other incidents where immediate action is needed to protect the public.

Snake Pass is not managed by National Highways. Although the A57 is an important route between Sheffield and Manchester, this section is a local authority road rather than part of the strategic road network managed by National Highways.

Can Snake Pass close without warning?

Yes. Some closures can happen with very little notice.

Accidents, sudden deterioration in winter weather, fallen trees and other emergency incidents can all result in an immediate closure.

Planned maintenance and major investigation work will normally be announced beforehand, but even an advertised reopening date can change if conditions or engineering work require it.

If you are travelling over Snake Pass, particularly during winter or severe weather, check the current road status shortly before setting off.