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119-644: US 36 begins at Deer Ridge Junction in Rocky Mountain National Park , where it intersects US 34 ( Trail Ridge Road ) on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains . It exits the park at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and enters the town of Estes Park , where it is briefly overlapped with US 34 Business until it meets (but does not cross) the main US 34 again at an intersection shaped like

238-564: A high-occupancy toll lane (HOT lane) in each direction between Federal Boulevard and 88th Street in Louisville, Colorado . Phase 1 of the project, costing $ 497 million, will open in summer 2015. High-occupancy vehicles and buses like RTD 's Flatiron Flyer travel free in the HOT lanes, while single-occupancy vehicles must pay between $ 1.25 to $ 7.60, depending on time of day, or up to $ 13.68 without an electronic toll collection pass. To accommodate

357-533: A 360 degree view of eastern part of the park. The summit plateau of Deer Mountain offers expansive views of the Continental Divide. During the winter, the lower trail generally has little snow, though packed and drifted snow are to be expected on the switchbacks. Snow cover on the summit may be three to five feet deep, requiring the use of snowshoes or skis. The trail to Lake Estes in Estes Park meanders through

476-549: A bird sanctuary, beside a golf course, along the Big Thompson River and Fish Creek, through the lakeside picnic area and along the lakeshore. The trail is used by birdwatchers, bikers and hikers. Lawn Lake Trail climbs to Lawn Lake and Crystal Lake, one of the parks deepest lakes, in the alpine ecosystem and along the course of the Roaring River. The river shows the massive damage caused by a dam failure in 1982 that claimed

595-495: A boom in building lodges, including the Bear Lake Trail School , and roads in the park, culminating with the construction of Trail Ridge Road to Fall River Pass between 1929 and 1932, then to Grand Lake by 1938. Prominent individuals in the effort to create a national park included Enos Mills from the Estes Park area, James Grafton Rogers from Denver , and J. Horace McFarland of Pennsylvania . The national park

714-414: A general north direction to the north-northwest and serves the census-designated place of Buttes at exit 122. As soon as US 85 leaves I-25 at exit 128, I-25 enters the city limits of Fountain . Basically, I-25 serves as the border between the western city limits of Fountain on the east side of I-25 and Fort Carson on the west side. Exit 132 ( SH 16 ) serves the north side of

833-654: A link to the city of Trinidad completed by 1963. The Trinidad Segment (as CDOT now calls the Raton Pass span) was not fully completed until 1968. The final segment of the Colorado portion of I-25, connecting the cities of Walsenburg and Trinidad , was completed during 1969. This meant that four lanes of high-speed, nonstop freeway were finally open for a full 305 miles (491 km) from New Mexico north to Wyoming . As both population and traffic increased in Colorado during

952-461: A modern intercity route along the Front Range as early as 1944, well before the national movement toward an Interstate Highway system . SH 1 , an unpaved road, was completed between Denver and Pueblo by 1919. Average travel time between Pueblo and Colorado Springs on this route was approximately 2.5 hours (or a full 8.5 hours from Pueblo to Denver). This route was upgraded with

1071-941: A monument to the Denver-Boulder Turnpike's original builders is also located here. Continuing southeast, the road enters the fast-growing Denver suburbs of Broomfield and Westminster , which have become popular locations for High-Tech businesses, which can be seen lining the turnpike. An interchange at 96th Street provides access to the Northwest Parkway and thereby to the E-470 outer beltway around Denver. At an interchange with SH 121 and SH 128 in Broomfield, it meets (but does not cross) US 287 . It then has another interchange with US 287 again at Federal Boulevard near 76th Avenue in Westminster. The interchange at 76th and Federal

1190-495: A nine-mile (14 km) link north to Cheyenne that was connected to Colorado 's 17-mile (27 km) stretch. Linking to New Mexico in the south would prove more problematic as the planned route had to stretch over Raton Pass , and its accompanying 1,800-foot (550 m) elevation change, within just 13 mi (21 km). Once again, US 85 and US 87 were used, but it had to be regraded in places to meet Interstate design guidelines. Construction began in 1960, with

1309-528: A pair of one-way streets with the eastbound direction traveling one block south on 5th Avenue and turning east onto Broadway Street, and the westbound direction using Main Street. The two directions reunite in two blocks and leave Lyons southeastward as four-lane Ute Highway. Just outside Lyons, US 36 turns south at a signalized intersection onto two-lane North Foothills Highway, while SH 66 continues east to Longmont . From Lyons to Boulder , US 36 pretty much traces

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1428-511: A proposed "Kansas City-Denver Airline Highway" that would have cut 72 miles (116 km) from the existing highways between Denver and Kansas City . The planned route followed present U.S. Route 36 in Kansas to Mankato , but then turned southeasterly via Concordia and Clay Center to Manhattan , where it met the Victory Highway (now US 24 and US 40 ). The new state highway was assigned

1547-466: A westerly direction between Evans Avenue (exit 203) and Colorado Boulevard (exit 204). University of Denver lies just to the south of the Interstate at exit 205. It then turns back north after exit 207. I-25 curves around the west side of downtown Denver , where it can be accessed by I-70 Bus. at exit 210. I-25 then interchanges with I-70 at exit 214 right before leaving

1666-486: A wide variety of wildlife within various climates and environments, from wooded forests to mountain tundra . The Rocky Mountain National Park Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on January 26, 1915, establishing the park boundaries and protecting the area for future generations. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the main automobile route, Trail Ridge Road , in the 1930s. In 1976, UNESCO designated

1785-487: Is 5a with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -15.2 °F (-26.2 °C), and 5a with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -16.1 °F (-26.7 °C) at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (7825 ft / 2385 m). The complex interactions of elevation, slope, exposure and regional-scale air masses determine the climate within the park, which is noted for its extreme weather patterns. A "collision of air masses" from several directions produces some of

1904-616: Is a typical four-lane Interstate Highway, and its entire route in Colorado lies close to the east side of the Rocky Mountains . The route turns from north to west-northwest as I-25 serves Wootton . After leaving Wootton, I-25 turns back up north and bypasses near the east side of the Trinidad Lake State Park , home of the Trinidad Lake . Trinidad , a city near the Trinidad Lake, is the first major city that lies along I-25. For

2023-523: Is an eastern bypass for travelers on I-25 looking to avoid Downtown Denver traffic and also provides direct connection to Denver International Airport for the southern suburbs of Denver. It is the only auxiliary route for I-25 as there are no other routes in Wyoming and New Mexico . Interstate 25 also has two active business routes within the state. In Aguilar , the town is connected to the freeway by Business Spur 25, which runs along Lynn Road and Walsenburg

2142-544: Is at an underpass near Strasburg, with no access to or from the Interstate. The highway was originally signed as part of SH 8 . Mileposts are based on US 36 mileage. Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park of the United States located approximately 55 mi (89 km) northwest of Denver in north-central Colorado , within

2261-456: Is available. Other lakes are Jewel Lake, Mills Lake, Black Lake, Blue Lake, Lake of Glass, Sky Pond, and Spruce Lake. The Pool is a large turbulent water pocket formed below where Spruce and Fern Creeks join the Big Thompson River. The winter route is along a gravel road, which leads to a trail at the Fern Lake trailhead. Along the route are beaver-cut aspen, frozen waterfalls on the cliffs, and

2380-617: Is currently getting extended past SH 83 to its official northern terminus at I-25. This project provides an easier bypass around the north end of the town and will also help connect Voyager Pkwy traffic to the Interstate. Powers Boulevard will eventually become a freeway bypass of the Colorado Springs metro area. The construction is in two phases, I-25 is involved in phase 1, where a new directional T-interchange (Y- interchange ) will be built near exit 156 at North Gate Boulevard between milemarkers 149 and 151. The interchange

2499-686: Is located to the west of the western city limits of Pueblo. After leaving Pueblo , I-25 continues up north with the Union Pacific Railroad line paralleling closely to the route on the right side after interchanging with Porter Draw at exit 106. By exit 119, the Fountain Creek joins along and travels parallel with I-25, and continues all the way to the Fountain Creek Regional Park in Widefield . I-25 gradually turns from

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2618-402: Is named for the yellow lily, Nymphaea polysepala , on its surface. Lake Helene is at the head of Odessa Gorge, east of Notchtop Mountain. Two Rivers Lake is found along the hike to Odessa Lake from Bear Lake, and has one backcountry campsite. The Cub Lake trail passes Big Thompson River, flowery meadows, and stands of pine and aspen trees. Ice and deep snow are present during the winter, requiring

2737-400: Is one of the highest national parks in the nation, with elevations from 7,860 to 14,259 feet (2,396 to 4,346 m), the highest point of which is Longs Peak . Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through-road in the country, with a peak elevation of 12,183 feet (3,713 m). Sixty mountain peaks over 12,000 feet (3,658 m) high provide scenic vistas. On the north side of the park,

2856-403: Is one of the most-photographed lakes and is also noted for its winter snowshoeing. Emerald Lake is located directly below the saddle between Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, only a short hike beyond Dream Lake. The shore of Lake Haiyaha (a Native American word for "big rocks") is surrounded by boulders along with ancient, twisted and picturesque pine trees growing out of rock crevices. Nymph Lake

2975-589: Is south of Estes Park and contains Longs Peak—the park's iconic fourteener —and the Wild Basin area. Other peaks and passes include Lily Mountain, Estes Cone, Twin Sisters, Boulder-Grand Pass, and Granite Pass. Eugenia Mine operated about the late-19th to early-20th century, with some old equipment and a log cabin remaining. Sites and trails include Boulder Field, Wild Basin Trail, and Homer Rouse Memorial Trail. Enos Mills ,

3094-683: Is the site of an abandoned silver mining town of the early 1880s located along the Colorado River Trail. According to a 1985 report prepared for the NRHP , there were only three cabin ruins remaining along with remnants of six other buildings. Baker Pass crosses the Continental Divide through the Never Summer Mountains and into the Michigan River drainage to the west of Mount Nimbus —a drainage that feeds streams and rivers that drain into

3213-609: The Beaver Meadows Visitor Center —a National Historic Landmark designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin West . National Forest lands surround the park on all sides, including Roosevelt National Forest to the north and east, Routt National Forest to the north and west, and Arapaho National Forest to the west and south, with the Indian Peaks Wilderness area located directly south of

3332-582: The City and County of Denver . As I-25 leaves Denver, the route continues up north through unincorporated areas of Adams County and interchanges with I-76 , I-270 , and the Denver-Boulder Turnpike ( US 36 ). Due to the complexity of this triangle-shaped interchange, it was known to be one of many malfunction junctions throughout the United States . Beyond that interchange, the Interstate enters

3451-826: The Fountain Creek Regional Park as well as the entrance to Fort Carson and connects to SH 21 (Powers Boulevard), the eastern bypass for the Colorado Springs metro area . By the time I-25 reaches exit 138, the route crosses into the city limits of Colorado Springs , where the stack interchange with US 24 at exit 139 serves the Evergreen Cemetery and Prospect Lake . I-25 turns west at exit 140, along with Fountain Creek , where it interchanges with US 85 , US 87 , and State Highway 25 Business (State Highway 25 Bus., I-25 Bus.). I-25, again, turns back north by exit 141. Swinging around

3570-515: The Front Range of the Rocky Mountains . The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and Grand Lake to the west. The eastern and western slopes of the Continental Divide run directly through the center of the park with the headwaters of the Colorado River located in the park's northwestern region. The main features of the park include mountains, alpine lakes and

3689-603: The Kansas border. The Denver-Boulder Turnpike was championed by business and university interests in Boulder due to there being no direct route between Denver and Boulder . The 17.3-mile (27.8 km) toll road stretched from Federal Boulevard ( US 287 ) in Westminster to Baseline Road in Boulder, and opened on January 19, 1952, with a toll of $ 0.25. The Valley Highway from downtown Denver opened in 1952–1954, feeding directly into

U.S. Route 36 in Colorado - Misplaced Pages Continue

3808-473: The Mummy Range contains a number of thirteener peaks, including Hagues Peak , Mummy Mountain , Fairchild Mountain , Ypsilon Mountain , and Mount Chiquita . Several small glaciers and permanent snowfields are found in the high mountain cirques . There are five regions, or geographical zones, within the park. Region 1 is known for moose and big meadows and is located on the west, or Grand Lake, side of

3927-709: The Native Americans who mostly left the area voluntarily by 1860, while others were removed to reservations by 1878. Lulu City , Dutchtown , and Gaskill in the Never Summer Mountains were established in the 1870s when prospectors came in search of gold and silver. The boom ended by 1883 with miners deserting their claims. The railroad reached Lyons, Colorado in 1881 and the Big Thompson Canyon Road—a section of U.S. Route 34 from Loveland to Estes Park —was completed in 1904. The 1920s saw

4046-803: The Valley Highway (through Denver ), Monument Valley Highway (through Colorado Springs ), and the Pueblo Freeway (through Pueblo). Within El Paso County , the route has been dedicated as the Ronald Reagan Highway . In Pueblo County , the route is called John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway . I-25 is also considered to be part of the unofficial Pan-American Highway . Following the Santa Fe Trail from New Mexico , I-25 enters Colorado while concurrent with US 85 and US 87 . It

4165-421: The 16-mile (26 km) corridor from exit 135 (Academy Boulevard) in the south to exit 151 (Briargate Parkway) in the north. Originally carrying around 8500 vehicles per day in 1960, usage of the former Monument Valley Freeway had grown to an average of 100,000 vehicles per day by 2005. The major goals of COSMIX, which began in 2005 and was completed a year and four days ahead of schedule at

4284-578: The 1990s and 2000s, the Colorado Department of Transportation has planned and completed major improvements for the city corridors along I-25. The first of these was Transportation Expansion ( T-REX ), which widened and expanded nearly 17 miles (27 km) of both I-25 and the I-225 bypass in the Denver Metropolitan Area as well as adding various pedestrian and aesthetic improvements. T-REX

4403-647: The Arch Rocks. The trail to Alberta Falls runs by Glacier Creek and Glacier Gorge. Wind River Trail leaves the East Portal and follows the Wind River to join with the Storm Pass trail. There are three backcountry campsites. Other sites in the area are The Loch, Loch Vale, Mill Creek Basin, Andrews Glacier, Sky Point, Timberline Falls, Upper Beaver Meadows , and Storm Pass. Region 5, known for waterfalls and backcountry,

4522-477: The Black Canyon trail. Region 4 is the heart of the park with easy road and trail access, great views, and lake hikes including the most popular trails. Flattop Mountain is a tundra hike and the easiest hike to the Continental Divide in the park. Crossing over Flattop Mountain, the hike to Hallett Peak passes through three climate zones, traversing the ridge that supports Tyndall Glacier and finally ascending to

4641-507: The Boulder shopping district, US 36 crosses Boulder Creek and passes through the University of Colorado campus area as an expressway to the interchange with Baseline Road , where it meets Spur US 36 , a two-block long connector along 27th Way to SH 93 , signed only as "To SH 93" and "To US 36". Just after the Baseline Road interchange, US 36 changes to a southeasterly direction, using

4760-516: The Clouds, Haynach Lakes, Timber Lake, Lone Pine Lake, Lake Nanita, and Lake Nokoni. Region 2 is the alpine region of the park with accessible tundra trails at high elevations—an area known for its spectacular vistas. Within this region is Mount Ida, with tundra slopes and a wide-open view of the Continental Divide. Forest Canyon Pass is near the top of the Old Ute Trail that once linked villages across

4879-646: The Continental Divide. Chapin Pass trail traverses a dense forest to beautiful views of the Chapin Creek valley, proceeding onward above timberline to the western flank of Mount Chapin . Tundra Communities Trail, accessible from Trail Ridge Road, is a hike offering tundra views and alpine wildflowers. Other trails are Tombstone Ridge and Ute Trail, which starts at the tundra and is mostly downhill from Ute Crossing to Upper Beaver Meadows , with one backcountry camping site. Cache La Poudre River trail begins north of Poudre Lake on

U.S. Route 36 in Colorado - Misplaced Pages Continue

4998-857: The Continental Divide. Thirty miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail loop through the park and pass through alpine tundra and scenery. The Big Meadows area with its grasses and wildflowers can be reached via the Onahu, Tonahutu, or Green Mountain trail. Other scenic areas include Long Meadows and the Kawuneeche Valley (Coyote Valley) of the upper Colorado River which is a good place for birdwatching, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. The valley trail loops through Kawuneeche Valley which contained as many as 39 mines, though less than 20 of those have archived records and archeological remains. LuLu City

5117-560: The Gulf of Mexico. Other mountain passes are La Poudre Pass and Thunder Pass, which was once used by stage coaches and is a route to Michigan Lakes. Little Yellowstone has geological features similar to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone . The Green Mountain trail once was a wagon road used to haul hay from Big Meadows. Flattop Mountain, which can be accessed from the eastern and western sides of

5236-743: The McGraw Ranch valley. Cow Creek Trail follows Cow Creek, with its many beaver ponds, extending past the Bridal Falls turnoff as the Dark Mountain trail, then joining the Black Canyon trail to intersect the Lawn Lake trail shortly below the lake. North Boundary Trail connects to the Lost Lake trail system. North Fork Trail begins outside of the park in the Comanche Peak Wilderness before reaching

5355-476: The Primary Road No. 102 designation, and kept its number when many others were changed in 1923. The west end of State Highway 102 was initially at Strasburg, but by 1924 it had been shifted to Byers , using the present County Roads 10 and 197 to return to current US 36. In 1927–1929 the entire SH 102 became part of US 36, which was realigned to go west rather than southwest from Norton, Kansas . The west end

5474-512: The Turnpike. Most of the new highway carried SH 185 ( US 87 ), but traffic continuing north on that route initially had to exit at 70th Avenue, now SH 224 , with the remainder of the route to Federal Boulevard becoming a realignment of SH 382 . When the bonds for the Turnpike were paid off ahead of time in 1967, tolls were removed. Beginning in July 2012, the Colorado Department of Transportation built

5593-464: The University of Colorado's mascot, though this name has not achieved common use. Returning to Colfax Avenue east of Denver, the first part of I-70 in that area opened in 1961–1962, bypassing Watkins and Bennett and carrying US 36 (and US 40 / US 287 ). The freeway was extended east past Strasburg and Byers in 1963–1964, including the final realignment of US 36 northeast of Byers. The old alignment

5712-573: The academic scientific community in cooperation with the National Park Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The stated objective: "develop and apply decision support tools that use NASA and other data and models to assess vulnerability of ecosystems and species to climate and land use change and evaluate management options." As of 2010 , the preceding one hundred years of records indicated an increase in

5831-492: The average annual temperature of approximately 3 °F (1.7 °C). The average low temperature has increased more than the average high temperature during the same time period. As a result of the temperature increase, snow is melting from the mountains earlier in the year, leading to drier summers and probably to an earlier, longer fire season. Since the 1990s, mountain pine beetles have reproduced more rapidly and have not died off at their previous mortality rate during

5950-501: The concurrency with US 34. All exits are unnumbered. SH 36 is the stretch of former US 36 that runs from Aurora to Byers . Its western terminus is at exit 292 of I-70. Form there, it goes east through Watkins , Bennett , and Strasburg , meeting I-70 twice along the way before meeting I-70 for a third time at its eastern terminus (exit 316). This first junction with I-70 east of Aurora is in Bennett, at exit 306. The second such junction

6069-437: The curve nationally" by federal transportation and transit authorities. As T-REX began to wrap up, CDOT's next major effort began with Colorado Springs Metro Interstate Expansion ( COSMIX ). It could be argued that COSMIX was even more important to Colorado's interests than T-REX had been, since the Colorado Springs corridor of I-25 had seen immense growth over the past four decades, and experienced major choke points all along

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6188-402: The early 1900s. Glacial Basin was the site of a resort run by Abner and Alberta Sprague , after whom Sprague Lake is named. The lake is a shallow body of water that was created when the Spragues dammed Boulder Brook to create a fish pond . Sprague Lake is a popular place for birdwatching, hiking and viewing the mountain peaks, along with camping at the Glacier Basin campground. Dream Lake

6307-455: The east and Longmont to the west. This stretch of I-25 in northern Colorado also has large amounts of truck traffic between SH 7 and Wyoming . After some time in the rural farmlands, the Interstate enters the Fort Collins–Loveland metro area at exit 255, serving Loveland and Greeley to at exits 255 and 257, Windsor at exit 262, and continuing north to the Fort Collins city limits south of Harmony Road. The highway runs on

6426-450: The east end of the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway ( SH 165 ) at exit 74. After leaving the city, I-25 follows in a north-northeast orientation until it reaches the St. Charles Reservoir just before entering the city of Pueblo , with the first exit within the southern city limits of Pueblo at exit 94. The Arkansas River in Pueblo serves as a feeder to the Lake Pueblo State Park , home of Pueblo Lake , which

6545-411: The east side of the institution. I-25 leaves El Paso County and enters Douglas County at Monument Hill , elevation 7,352 ft (2,241 m), north of Monument . I-25 then continues north through more rural and hilly areas east of the Rocky Mountains until reaching Castle Rock at exit 181. I-25 continues through rural and hilly portions of Douglas County until interchanging with E-470 ,

6664-412: The eastern side of Fort Collins, serving Colorado State University at exits 268 and 269 (which is also the most direct route to downtown). After exit 271, I-25 leaves Fort Collins and rolls into more rural grasslands past Wellington . Exits also become few and far between from here to Wyoming as well after gradually turning north-easterly toward the state line. Colorado had begun planning of

6783-518: The eastern slopes of the range joining the headwaters of the Colorado River that flow south and west, eventually reaching the Pacific. Meanwhile, streams on the western slopes join rivers that flow north and then east and south, eventually reaching the Atlantic. The headwaters of the Colorado River are located in the park's northwestern region. The park contains approximately 450 miles (724 km) of rivers and streams, 350 miles (563 km) of trails, and 150 lakes. Rocky Mountain National Park

6902-439: The edge of the foothills . US 36 enters Boulder on four-lane-wide 28th Street, where it serves the city's main shopping area. On the north side of Boulder, it intersects SH 119 at Diagonal Highway, beginning a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) overlap that extends until SH 119 turns west onto Canyon Boulevard towards Nederland . One block farther south, SH 7 diverges from its overlap with US 36 by turning east onto Arapahoe Avenue. Leaving

7021-434: The elimination of surface hail, along with the higher likelihood of intense precipitation events are predicted by 2050. Droughts may be more likely due to increased temperatures, increased evaporation rates, and potential changes in precipitation. Precambrian metamorphic rock formed the core of the North American continent during the Precambrian eon 4.5–1 billion years ago. During the Paleozoic era, western North America

7140-421: The end at Baseline Road, SH 119 on 28th Street, SH 7 to Lyons , and SH 66 to end at US 34 in Estes Park . Late in 1968 these redundant state highway designations were dropped, resulting in the elimination of SH 49 and SH 102, realignment of SH 119 to go more directly in Boulder, and creation of gaps on SH 7 and SH 66. In 2012, the turnpike was also given the honorary name Buffalo Highway in recognition of

7259-429: The full route to Table Mesa in Boulder in March 2016. At the very complicated junction of US 36, I-25 , I-76 , and I-270 , US 36 emerges overlapped and unsigned with I-270, and continues overlapped and unsigned with I-70 when I-270 ends near the former Stapleton Airport site. At Colfax Avenue , this I-70/US 36 overlap is also joined by US 287 (the third time the two highways come into proximity) and US 40 . From

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7378-449: The help of the federal government to become US 85 and US 87 by 1930, now paved in concrete and shortening the travel time between Pueblo and Colorado Springs to just one hour. The cities of Denver (in 1948) and Pueblo (in 1949) were first to begin building multilane highway segments along the route of what would eventually become I-25. Construction follows an earlier segment of the Colorado and Southern Railway . Denver's segment

7497-564: The highway. As of October 2020 , a seven-mile (11 km) segment of I-25 through Pueblo is currently being upgraded. Enhancements include the widening of two bridges, noise wall installation, the softening of curves for better safety, and the addition of acceleration and deceleration lanes. The $ 69 million project has been completed. There is much controversy surrounding the future of I-25 in northern Colorado (SH 7 in Broomfield to SH 14 in Fort Collins). Suggestions from adding toll lanes to general expansion to six lanes from

7616-465: The interchange with Colfax Avenue, the road continues to Watkins and then to Byers , unsigned in its four-way overlap with I-70, US 40, and US 287. At Byers, US 36 heads eastward on its own as a separate rural highway, while the I-70/US 40/US 287 overlap curves to the southeast. US 36 passes through several very small settlements including Last Chance , Lindon , Anton , and Cope in Washington County and Joes and Idalia in Yuma County . Many of

7735-430: The key weather events in the region. When cold arctic air from the north meets warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico at the Front Range , "intense, very wet snowfalls with total snow depth measured in the feet" accumulate in the park. Higher elevation areas within the park receive twice as much precipitation as lower elevation areas, generally in the form of deep winter snowfall. Arctic conditions are prevalent during

7854-430: The lakes have backcountry campsites. Waterfalls include Ouzel Falls, Trio Falls, Copeland Falls, and Calypso Cascades. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Rocky Mountain National Park has a Subarctic climate with cool summers and year around precipitation ( Dfc ). According to the United States Department of Agriculture , the Plant Hardiness zone at Bear Lake Ranger Station (9492 ft / 2893 m)

7973-407: The lanes, several bridges were replaced and shoulders were widened along the highway. Phase 2 of the project, anticipated to be complete by early 2016, will extend the HOT lanes from 88th Street to Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, Colorado , through a public–private partnership . The road from Strasburg east to the Kansas state line was added to the state highway system in 1922 as the Colorado part of

8092-409: The letter K. On its way out of Estes Park it intersects SH 7 at South St. Vrain Avenue, for the first of three times. It then descends southeast through North St. Vrain Canyon to the town of Lyons , which it enters on Main Street. At 5th Avenue in Lyons, it intersects SH 7 again, beginning an overlap to Boulder which is signed only as US 36. At 5th Avenue and Main Street in Lyons, it divides into

8211-451: The lives of three campers. The trail is a strenuous snowshoe hike in the winter. Ypsilon Lake Trail leads to its namesake as well as Chipmunk Lake, with views of Longs Peak, while traversing pine forests with grouseberry and bearberry bushes. The trail also offers views of the canyon gouged out by rampaging water that broke loose from Lawn Lake Dam in 1982. Visible is the south face of Ypsilon Mountain, with its Y-shaped gash rising sharply from

8330-464: The main figure behind the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park, enjoyed walking to Lily Lake from his nearby cabin. Wildflowers are common in the spring and early summer. In the winter, the trail around the lake is often suitable for walking in boots, or as a short snowshoe or ski. Other lakes in the Wild Basin include Chasm Lake, Snowbank Lake, Lion Lakes 1 and 2, Thunder Lake, Ouzel Lake, Finch Lake, Bluebird Lake, Pear Lake, and Sandbeach Lake. Many of

8449-420: The montane area by early May, when wildflowers begin to bloom. Spring weather is subject to unpredictable changes in temperature and precipitation, with potential for snow along trails through May. In July and August, temperatures are generally in the 70s or 80s ° F during the day, and as low as the 40s °F at night. Lower elevations receive rain as most of their summer precipitation. Sudden dramatic changes in

8568-482: The next 150 million years, the mountains uplifted, continued to erode, and covered themselves in their own sediment. Wind, gravity, rainwater, snow, and glacial ice eroded the granite mountains over geologic time scales . The Ancestral Rockies were eventually buried under subsequent strata. The Pierre Shale formation was deposited during the Paleogene and Cretaceous periods about 70 million years ago. The region

8687-495: The next 30 miles (48 km), I-25 continues north through the rural areas of Colorado until it reaches the small city of Walsenburg , where State Highway 25C (Interstate 25 Business, I-25 Bus.) junctions with US 160 . I-25 then continues in a north-northwest direction until it bypasses the Orlando Reservoir , then turns north from there until it reaches Colorado City . In Colorado City, I-25 interchanges with

8806-566: The northern suburbs of the Denver metro area, such as Thornton and Northglenn , and at exit 220, I-25 slips its way through a narrow path between the Badding Reservoir (west side) and the Croke Lake (east side). Development begins to drop off after exit 223 (120th Avenue) after continuing north into Westminster and eastern Broomfield . At exit 228, I-25 interchanges with

8925-606: The northern terminuses of E-470 and Northwest Parkway at a stack interchange , with the Larkridge Mall just to the north, served by 160th Avenue ( SH 7 ). As I-25 continues north, it moves through rolling farm and grasslands with the Front Range and high mountains clearly visible to the west while passing through a medley of lakes and reservoirs. It stays generally flat with few moderate climbs in elevation, while also serving smaller cities like Dacono and Firestone to

9044-674: The other associated with the Grand Lake area on the park's west side. The west side of the park experiences more snow, less wind, and clear cold days during the winter months. Rocky Mountain National Park was selected to participate in a climate change study, along with two other National Park Service areas in the Rocky Mountain region and three in the Appalachian Mountain region. The study began in 2011, orchestrated by members of

9163-480: The park as one of the first World Biosphere Reserves . In 2023, 4.1 million recreational visitors entered the park. The park is one of the most visited in the National Park System, ranking as the third most visited national park in 2015. In 2019, the park saw record attendance yet again with 4,678,804 visitors, a 44% increase since 2012. The park has five visitor centers, with park headquarters located at

9282-579: The park boundary and ending at Lost Lake. Stormy Peaks Trail connects Colorado State University 's Pingree Park campus in the Comanche Peak Wilderness and the North Fork Trail inside the park. Beaver Mountain Loop, also used by horseback riders, passes through forests and meadows, crosses Beaver Brook and several aspen-filled drainages, and has a great view of Longs Peak. Deer Mountain Trail gives

9401-552: The park, is near Green Mountain. Shadow Mountain Lookout —a wildfire observation tower—is on the National Register of Historic Places . Paradise Park Natural Area is an essentially hidden and protected wild area with no maintained trails penetrating it. Skeleton Gulch, Cascade Falls, North Inlet Falls, Granite Falls, and Adams Falls are found in the west side of the park. The west side lakes include Bowen Lake, Lake Verna, Lake of

9520-539: The park, though some slopes are rugged and heavily glaciated, particularly around Ypsilon Mountain and Mummy Mountain . Bridal Veil Falls is a scenic point and trail accessible from the Cow Creek trailhead, at the Continental Divide Research Center. West Creek Falls and Chasm Falls, near Old Fall River Road, are also in this region. The Alluvial Fan trail leads to a bridge over the river that had been

9639-587: The park. The history of Rocky Mountain National Park began when Paleo-Indians traveled along what is now Trail Ridge Road to hunt and forage for food . Ute and Arapaho people subsequently hunted and camped in the area. In 1820, the Long Expedition, led by Stephen H. Long for whom Longs Peak was named, approached the Rockies via the Platte River . Settlers began arriving in the mid-1800s, displacing

9758-527: The park. Streams and glaciations during the Quaternary period cut through the older sediment, creating mesa tops and alluvial plains, and revealing the present Rocky Mountains. The glaciation removed as much as 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of sedimentary rocks from earlier inland sea deposits. This erosion exposed the basement rock of the Ancestral Rockies. Evidence of the uplifting and erosion can be found on

9877-563: The partial beltway of Denver as the toll road serves the Centennial Airport and the much larger Denver International Airport . After entering Arapahoe County , I-25 cuts through the Denver Technological Center (DTC) between Dry Creek Road and Belleview Avenue (exits 196 and 199). I-25 enters Denver at the I-225 interchange, a spur that detours motorists to I-70 through Aurora , at exit 200. I-25 turns in

9996-549: The project is completed with a cost of $ 350 million, with contributions from Douglas and El Paso counties, Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority and a federal INFRA grant. In Colorado, I-25 has only one auxiliary route. Interstate 225 (I-225) is a 12-mile-long (19 km) spur route located within the Denver Metro Area. It runs from its parent highway from the Denver Tech Center to I-70 north of Aurora . It

10115-572: The region began to sink while lime and mud sediments were deposited in the vacated space. Eroded granite produced sand particles that formed strata —layers of sediment—in the sinking basin. About 300 million years ago, the land was uplifted creating the ancestral Rocky Mountains. Fountain Formation was deposited during the Pennsylvanian period of the Paleozoic era, 290–296 million years ago. Over

10234-529: The route of the original Denver-Boulder Turnpike, a toll road from its opening in 1952 until 1967. The road intersects SH 157 (Foothills Parkway) on its way out of Boulder. Northwestbound traffic approaching Boulder on the turnpike can stop at the Davidson Mesa Overlook, a scenic overlook providing a panoramic view of the Front Range mountains, the City of Boulder, and its famous Flatirons rock formation;

10353-465: The shoreline. Gem Lake is high among the rounded granite domes of Lumpy Ridge. Untouched by glaciation, this outcrop of 1.8 billion-year-old granite has been sculpted by wind and chemical erosion into a backbone-like ridge. Pillars, potholes, and balanced rocks are found around the midpoint of the trail, along with views of the Estes Valley and Continental Divide. Potts Puddle trail is accessible from

10472-520: The site of the Lawn Lake Flood . Lumpy Ridge Trail leads to Paul Bunyan's Boot at about 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from the trailhead, then Gem Lake, and a further 2.2 mi (3.5 km) to Balanced Rock. Black Canyon Trail intersects Cow Creek Trail, forming part of the Gem Lake loop which goes through the old McGregor Ranch valley, passing Lumpy Ridge rock formations, with a loop hike that goes into

10591-425: The state from the north near Carr and exits the state near Starkville . The highway also runs through the cities of Fort Collins , Broomfield , Loveland , and Pueblo . The route is concurrent with U.S. Route 87 ( US 87 ), which is unsigned, through the entire length of the state. I-25 replaced US 87 and most of US 85 for through traffic. Historical nicknames for this route have included

10710-629: The summit of Hallett Peak. Bear Lake is a high-elevation lake in a spruce and fir forest at the base of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. Bierstadt Lake sits atop a lateral moraine named Bierstadt Moraine, and drains into Mill Creek. There are several trails that lead to Bierstadt Lake through groves of aspens and lodgepole pines. North of Bierstadt Moraine is Hollowell Park, a large and marshy meadow along Mill Creek. The Hollowell Park trail runs along Steep Mountain's south side. Ranches, lumber and sawmill enterprises operated in Hollowell Park into

10829-468: The towns on this desolate 105-mile (169 km) section of highway are so small that they do not provide basic traveler services such as gasoline, and signs caution winter drivers that there is no snowplowing at night. At Cope, it is joined by SH 59 for about 6 miles (9.7 km). In Yuma County, near Idalia, it jogs north, becoming concurrent with US 385 for about 3 miles (4.8 km) before turning east again and continuing about 10 miles (16 km) to

10948-456: The two-lane bottleneck at SH 66 to SH 14 and adding multimodal transportation options have been discussed. The future of the highway remains in question as funding is limited, and agreement is limited as well. The I-25 corridor in Weld and Larimer counties is becoming increasingly heavy with traffic, and something will have to be done soon. In Colorado Springs, SH 21 (Powers Boulevard)

11067-499: The use of skis or snowshoes. The Fern Lake trail passes Arch Rock formations, The Pool, and the cascading water of Fern Falls. Two backcountry campsites are located near the lake, and two more are closer to the trailhead. Odessa Lake has two approaches: one is along the Flattop trail from Bear Lake while the other is from the Fern Lake trailhead, along which are Fern Creek, The Pool, Fern Falls, and Fern Lake itself. One backcountry campsite

11186-515: The very end of December 2007, were a general expansion and widening of the corridor to three lanes in each direction throughout the city, as well as the reconstruction of two main interchanges (at Bijou Street near downtown Colorado Springs , and at Rockrimmon Boulevard and North Nevada Avenue in the city's growing north side). Originally estimated at $ 225 million, on delivery, COSMIX cost only $ 150 million, approximately $ 20 million of which involved land acquisition costs. COSMIX

11305-445: The way to Rocky Mountain National Park in the hogbacks of the Front Range foothills. Many sedimentary rocks from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras exist in the basins surrounding the park. Interstate 25 (Colorado) In the US state of Colorado , Interstate 25 ( I-25 ) follows the north–south corridor through Colorado Springs and Denver . The highway enters

11424-428: The weather may occur during the summer, typically due to afternoon thunderstorms that can cause as much as a 20 °F drop in temperature and windy conditions. The park's climate is also affected by the Continental Divide, which runs northwest to southeast through the center of the park atop the high peaks. The Continental Divide creates two distinct climate patterns - one typical of the east side near Estes Park and

11543-562: The west side of downtown Colorado Springs at exit 142, and to the north of the city lies the Colorado College , and is served at exit 143 (Uintah Street). Continuing north and northeast, the highway intersects the north terminus of State Highway 25 Bus. and US 85. The Interstate leaves Colorado Springs between exits 153 and 156, where I-25 enters the United States Air Force Academy , going through

11662-464: The west side of the valley near Milner Pass and heads downward toward the Mummy Pass trail junction. Lake Irene is a recreation and picnic area. Region 3, known for wilderness escape, is in the northern part of the park and is accessed from the Estes Park area. The Mummy Range is a short mountain range in the north of the park. The Mummies tend to be gentler and more forested than the other peaks in

11781-570: The western segment of SH 66 (except for a spur) from Estes Park into Rocky Mountain National Park and another junction with US 34. In early September 2013, a 31-mile (50 km) section of US 36 from Estes Park to Boulder was closed due to damage from the 2013 Colorado floods . For a time, the only route available in and out of Estes Park was a long detour through Nederland , Blackhawk , and Golden . The section in North St. Vrain Canyon west of Lyons

11900-540: The western side of the divide flowing toward the Pacific Ocean while those on the eastern side flow toward the Atlantic . A geographical anomaly is found along the slopes of the Never Summer Mountains where the Continental Divide forms a horseshoe –shaped bend for about 6 miles (9.7 km), heading from south–to–north but then curving sharply southward and westward out of the park. The sharp bend results in streams on

12019-441: The winter months. Consequently, the increased beetle population has led to an increased rate of tree mortality in the park. The climate change study projects further temperature increases, with greater warming in the summer and higher extreme temperatures by 2050. Due to the increased temperature, there is a projected moderate increase in the rate of water evaporation. Reduced snowfall—perhaps 15% to 30% less than current amounts—and

12138-443: The winter, with sudden blizzards, high winds, and deep snowpack. High country overnight trips require gear suitable for -35 °F or below. The subalpine region does not begin to experience spring-like conditions until June. Wildflowers bloom from late June to early August. Below 9,400 feet (2,865 m), temperatures are often moderate, although nighttime temperatures are cool, as is typical of mountain weather. Spring comes to

12257-511: Was also affected by deformation and erosion during that era. The uplift disrupted the older drainage patterns and created the present drainage patterns. Glacial geology in Rocky Mountain National Park can be seen from the mountain peaks to the valley floors. Ice is a powerful sculptor of this natural environment and large masses of moving ice are the most powerful tools. Telltale marks of giant glaciers can be seen all throughout

12376-493: Was also instrumental in expanding Denver's RTD light rail lines to connect outlying communities beyond the city and county of Denver , adding 19 miles (31 km) of new routes. Starting in early 2004, the T-REX project was completed during 2006 at a cost of $ 1.67 billion, under its projected budget and two years ahead of its originally scheduled conclusion. It has been hailed as a "model for other cities to follow" and "ahead of

12495-513: Was changed again in 1954–1955, now following County Road 181 east of Byers. Finally in 1958–1959 a realignment west of Idalia eliminated four more 90-degree turns. When the tolls were removed from the Denver-Boulder Turnpike, the road became State Highway 49 , which also replaced all of SH 382. US 36 was also extended at this time, following the Valley Highway (by then part of I-25 ) from Colfax Avenue north to SH 49, and then overlapping SH 49 to

12614-445: Was completed in summer 2021. The Gap is an 18-mile (29 km) stretch of I-25 from south of Castle Rock to Monument, in both Douglas and El Paso counties. It is the only four-lane section of I-25 between Colorado's two largest cities, Denver and Colorado Springs. Over the years, congestion, crashes, and delays have grown due to population growth and more people using the road. Efforts to improve these conditions are underway, and

12733-515: Was covered by a deep sea—the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway —which deposited massive amounts of shale on the seabed. Both the thick stratum of shale and embedded marine life fossils—including ammonites and skeletons of fish and such marine reptiles as mosasaurs , plesiosaurs , and extinct species of sea turtles , along with rare dinosaur and bird remains—were created during this time period. The area now known as Colorado

12852-582: Was especially heavily damaged. The road was finally reopened two months later with the help of the National Guard . Permanent repairs were started in January, 2014. In July 2019, cracks appeared on the eastbound lanes of the highway in Westminster due to shifting soil underneath. The highway has been closed as construction crews try to address the problem. The mileposts in Larimer County temporarily reset at

12971-411: Was established on January 26, 1915. Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses 265,461 acres (414.78 sq mi; 1,074.28 km ) of federal land, with an additional 253,059 acres (395.40 sq mi; 1,024.09 km ) of U.S. Forest Service wilderness adjoining the park boundaries. The Continental Divide runs generally north–south through the center of the park, with rivers and streams on

13090-573: Was eventually transformed from being at the bottom of an ocean to dry land again, giving yield to another fossiliferous rock layer known as the Denver Formation . At about 68 million years ago, the Front Range began to rise again due to the Laramide orogeny in the west. During the Cenozoic era, block uplift formed the present Rocky Mountains. The geologic composition of Rocky Mountain National Park

13209-532: Was initially removed from the state highway system, but in 1964–1965 it returned as part of SH 8 . When this route was largely eliminated in late 1968, this bypassed highway instead became State Highway 36 (and SH 40 east of Byers), with US 36 remaining on I-70. US 36 was realigned through Denver in 1970, following I-70 and I-270 north of downtown. (Note that, until 2000, I-270 ended at I-76 , and US 36 traffic had to use short pieces of I-76 and I-25.) A final westerly extension came in 1977–1978, when US 36 replaced

13328-420: Was killed and 1 person was injured. On June 8, 2024, renowned comic book YouTuber Ben Potter , also known as Comicstorian, was killed in an accident on the interstate, when his vehicle veered off the right side of the road, crossed a frontage road, and rolled multiple times. His death--while under investigation-- shook up the comic book community, and invoked calls for further measures to ensure public safety on

13447-545: Was mortally wounded in a rollover accident while merging onto the highway at the North Academy Boulevard interchange. Cray's death renewed calls to replace the cloverleaf interchange with an alternative design without weave zones. On October 11, 2023, a freight train derailed on a bridge over Interstate 25 in Pueblo, Colorado . As a result, several train cars fell onto the highway causing the bridge to collapse, 1 person

13566-491: Was moved back to Strasburg in 1932–1934, and a number of right-angle turns were eliminated by constructing diagonal cutoffs west of Cope and at the state line in 1934–1935. US 36 was extended west in 1936–1937 as an overlap with US 40 on Colfax Avenue to downtown Denver, where it would end for the next 30 years. Paving began in 1937–1939 and was completed in 1947–1949, including a realignment off County Roads DD and 12 north of Idalia. The junction with US 40 near Strasburg-Byers

13685-437: Was originally known as the Valley Highway and was completed by 1958. The city of Colorado Springs followed a similar theme with their Monument Valley Freeway , begun in 1955 and completed by July 1960. Pueblo's section—the Pueblo Freeway —was complete by July 1959. As the national Interstate Highway System began to take shape, actual "interstate" connections began to be made. Wyoming came first in 1964, building

13804-565: Was reconfigured to include just one exit, instead of A/B, and features two new roundabouts for North Gate Boulevard. The widening and paving was completed in December ;2014. An EA-recommended improvement not included in COSMIX due to funding limitations was the reconstruction of the I-25 interchange at Cimarron Street (US 24 West). CDOT completed this project in late 2017. In 1996, Seymour Cray

13923-410: Was submerged beneath a shallow sea, with a seabed composed of limestone and dolomite deposits many kilometers thick. Pikes Peak granite formed during the late Precambrian eon, continuing well into the Paleozoic era, when mass quantities of molten rock flowed, amalgamated, and formed the continents about 1 billion–300 million years ago. Concurrently, in the period from 500 to 300 million years ago,

14042-402: Was the first funded portion of a larger plan for I-25 improvements as detailed in an Environmental Assessment approved by CDOT and FHWA in 2004. A second phase resulted in the widening of the 12-mile (19 km) segment from Woodmen Road (exit 149) to Monument (exit 161) to six lanes and addition of auxiliary lanes at busy interchanges. The Air Force Academy interchange (exit 156)

14161-516: Was the terminus of the original Denver-Boulder Turnpike when it was still a toll road, but in common parlance the Denver-Boulder Turnpike now extends all the way east to I-25. The US 36 bikeway, part of the multi-modal Fastracks US 36 Express Lanes Project, mostly parallels the road between Table Mesa Drive in Boulder and 80th Avenue in Westminster, the first 11-mile stretch between Westminster and Louisville/Superior opening on Bike-to-Work Day in June 2015,

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