I'm thinking about riding Berthoud Pass over Labor Day weekend. I'm most concerned about the traffic... has anyone ridden this route on the Friday before a Labor Day weekend? Is the traffic manageable? I'm not averse to riding with traffic, but I don't want to be stuck on the descent (into Winter Park) in stop & go traffic.
During holiday weekends, traffic near the I-70 corridor is always heavy, especially that close to Denver. I recommend doing something farther from Denver. Perhaps Rabbit Ears pass to Steamboat, or heading west from Steamboat. Or heading south, something between Leadville and Salida, maybe?