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State Highway 5 (Colorado)
Encyclopedia
State Highway 5 in the U.S.
state of Colorado
is the highest paved road in North America
. However, this is not a through highway; it is simply a scenic spur route
to the summit of Mount Evans
, altitude 14,264 feet (4,347 m). The southern terminus of State Highway 5 is at a parking lot somewhat below the actual summit.
(The highest through highway in North America is Trail Ridge Road
, the portion of U.S. Highway 34 that passes through Rocky Mountain National Park
.)
. This particular state highway
is quite unusual in that it does not pass through any cities, towns, or unincorporated communities.
The route is entirely contained within the county of Clear Creek
. This highway forms half of the Mount Evans Scenic Byway
, running from the summit of Mount Evans
to the junction with State Highway 103 at Echo Lake Park
, about 13 miles (20.9 km) south of Idaho Springs
, the nearest municipality to Highway 5.
Because of its mountainous route, State Highway 5 is closed seasonally when snow clearance becomes excessively difficult, usually from Labor Day
to Memorial Day
. During the warmer months the road is open 24 hours a day. A toll (or "park fee") is charged to gain access to this road.
; however, it was renumbered as State Highway 5 by the year 1955. The route was evidently paved entirely by 1960, however, the true date the route was paved is unknown.
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destination
!Notes
|-
|Echo Lake Park
|0.000
|
|elevation 10650 ft (3,246.1 m)
|-
|Summit Lake Park
|9.060
|
|elevation 12834 ft (3,911.8 m)
|-
|Mount Evans
|14.894
|Summit parking
|elevation 14127 ft (4,305.9 m)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
is the highest paved road in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. However, this is not a through highway; it is simply a scenic spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
to the summit of Mount Evans
Mount Evans
Mount Evans is a mountain in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains, in Clear Creek County, Colorado. It is one of 54 fourteeners in Colorado, and the closest fourteener to Denver...
, altitude 14,264 feet (4,347 m). The southern terminus of State Highway 5 is at a parking lot somewhat below the actual summit.
(The highest through highway in North America is Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road is the name for a stretch of U.S. Highway 34 and is the highest continuous highway in the United States. Also known as Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway, it traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in...
, the portion of U.S. Highway 34 that passes through Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado.It features majestic mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments—from wooded forests to mountain tundra—and easy access to back-country trails...
.)
Route description
Highway 5 is short, slightly less than 15 miles (24.1 km). It passes through the Mount Evans WildernessMount Evans Wilderness
The Mount Evans Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Arapaho National Forest and Pike National Forest about 40 miles west of Denver, Colorado...
. This particular state highway
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
is quite unusual in that it does not pass through any cities, towns, or unincorporated communities.
The route is entirely contained within the county of Clear Creek
Clear Creek County, Colorado
Clear Creek County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,322 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Georgetown...
. This highway forms half of the Mount Evans Scenic Byway
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
The Mount Evans Scenic Byway begins at the junction of Interstate 70 and State Highway 103 near Idaho Springs, Colorado and continues on State Highway 5 through the Mount Evans Wilderness where it ends near the summit of Mount Evans. The byway is in length and gains over of elevation...
, running from the summit of Mount Evans
Mount Evans
Mount Evans is a mountain in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains, in Clear Creek County, Colorado. It is one of 54 fourteeners in Colorado, and the closest fourteener to Denver...
to the junction with State Highway 103 at Echo Lake Park
Echo Lake Park
Echo Lake Park is a park located along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway about west of Denver, Colorado. The park provides a stone shelter with picnic tables and barbecue grills on one end of the lake, and the 1926 Echo Lake Lodge and an Arapaho National Forest campground are found at the other...
, about 13 miles (20.9 km) south of Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs, Colorado
The City of Idaho Springs is a municipality in the U.S. state of Colorado that is the most populous settlement in Clear Creek County, Colorado. Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden, some thirty miles west of Denver...
, the nearest municipality to Highway 5.
Because of its mountainous route, State Highway 5 is closed seasonally when snow clearance becomes excessively difficult, usually from Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
to Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
. During the warmer months the road is open 24 hours a day. A toll (or "park fee") is charged to gain access to this road.
History
Sh 5's current routing up to Mount Evans was originally a part of State Highway 103Colorado State Highway 103
State Highway 103 in the U.S. state of Colorado runs from I-70 at Idaho Springs to county roads 151 and 103 at Squaw Pass. The thirteen miles from Idaho Springs to State Highway 5 forms about half of the Mount Evans Scenic Byway....
; however, it was renumbered as State Highway 5 by the year 1955. The route was evidently paved entirely by 1960, however, the true date the route was paved is unknown.
Major intersections
The entire route is in Clear Creek CountyClear Creek County, Colorado
Clear Creek County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,322 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Georgetown...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destination
!Notes
|-
|Echo Lake Park
Echo Lake Park
Echo Lake Park is a park located along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway about west of Denver, Colorado. The park provides a stone shelter with picnic tables and barbecue grills on one end of the lake, and the 1926 Echo Lake Lodge and an Arapaho National Forest campground are found at the other...
|0.000
|
|elevation 10650 ft (3,246.1 m)
|-
|Summit Lake Park
Summit Lake Park
Summit Lake Park is a park located along Mount Evans Scenic Byway about 38 miles west of Denver, Colorado. The park is 160 acres in size and contains alpine tundra. Land to the east of the lake is in a state of permafrost which helps to prevent drainage of the area...
|9.060
|
|elevation 12834 ft (3,911.8 m)
|-
|Mount Evans
Mount Evans
Mount Evans is a mountain in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains, in Clear Creek County, Colorado. It is one of 54 fourteeners in Colorado, and the closest fourteener to Denver...
|14.894
|Summit parking
|elevation 14127 ft (4,305.9 m)