Highway in Colorado
This article is about the section of U.S. Route 34 in Colorado. For the entire route, see
U.S. Route 34.
U.S. Route 34 (US 34) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from Granby, Colorado, to Berwyn, Illinois. In the U.S. state of Colorado, US 34 is a 260-mile-long (420 km) road that spans across northern Colorado. It begins at US 40 in Granby and ends at the Nebraska border, where it continues as US 34, east of Laird.
Route description
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View of US 34 in Rocky Mountain National Park, at an altitude above 11,000 feet
View of US 34 in Rocky Mountain National Park, at Rainbow Curve
Granby to Rocky Mountain National Park
The route begins in Granby at US 40. It then follows the Colorado River Valley near Lake Granby and enters Arapaho National Recreation Area.[3]
Trail Ridge Road
After entering Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado's Front Range,[citation needed] US 34 follows the North Fork Colorado River through Kawuneeche Valley. It passes over Milner Pass and reaches the Alpine Visitor Center. Then it continues east, passing its highest point at 12,183 feet[4] near Fall River Pass. It exits the park at US 36 at Deer Ridge Junction.
US 34 here is the highest continuous highway in the United States.[4]
This section of US 34 requires a $30 national park entrance fee, making this segment into a toll road.
Estes Park to Loveland
From here, it passes by Estes Park, has a business route, and then continues east through Big Thompson Canyon before entering Loveland as Eisenhower Boulevard, becoming a four-lane expressway. Here, it intersects I-25 and U.S. Highway 287.
Greeley to Nebraska border
At Greeley, it passes by U.S. Highway 85 in a complex interchange[2] and U.S. 34 Business, and crosses the South Platte River. It also has an interchange with SH 257.[5] From here, it is no longer an expressway. It intersects SH 144 and SH 39, then joins I-76 at Wiggins. It leaves, and follows the North Fork Republican River east into Nebraska, where it intersects SH 71, SH 52, SH 63, SH 61, SH 59, and U.S. Highway 385.
History
Parts of the route were originally designated as US 38. US 34 was extended into Colorado in 1939.[2]
Major intersections
References
KML is from Wikidata
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