U.S. Highway 285
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United States Highway 285 is a north-south United States highway. It has always had an endpoint in Denver, Colorado, though what is now the northern terminus was once the route's southern end.
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Termini
As of 2004, the highway's northern terminus is in Denver, Colorado at an intersection with Interstate 25. Its southern terminus is in Sanderson, Texas at an intersection with U.S. Highway 90.
Historic termini
From 1927 to 1936, US 285's northern terminus was in Laramie, Wyoming, and its southern terminus was in Denver, Colorado. The pre-1936 routing is often referred to as US 285 [I], with the newer routing called US 285 [II]
States traversed
The highway passes through the following states:
US 285 in Colorado
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Taking US 285 southwest out of Denver is a beautiful drive. It runs many miles through the Denver metro area, then suddenly it begins to climb the Rocky Mountains following the route of the original narrow gague transcontinental railroad, skirting the south side of the Mount Evans massif. Once west of Mount Evans, the highway winds its way over Kenosha Pass into the spectacular high-altitude South Park basin of Colorado.
Partway across the South Park, the town of Como has a mecca of narrow gague railroad buffs, one of the few remaining narrow gague roundhouses. The intercontinental railroad turns west at this point, over Boreas Pass into Breckenridge, and historically into the rich gold fields of Leadville. From Leadville the railroad turned west to California.
After traversing the South Park, U.S. 285 climbs over a minor pass and then drops dramatically into the Upper Arkansas River Valley. The view of Mt. Princeton as the road descends into the valley is spectacular.
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Once the highway hits the valley floor, it takes a sharp turn south. Through Salida, over another major mountain pass, then into the northern end of the Rio Grande Valley. The highway continues mostly straight south through the valley, into New Mexico, Taos, and eventually into Texas.
The northern end of the valley in Colorado include the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, which have the tallest sand dunes in the US. Other attractions include the highly improbable Alligator Farm in Colorado, near the Sand Dunes.
Related US Routes
Sources and external links
- Endpoints of US highways (http://www.geocities.com/usend8089/End285/end285.htm) (used with permission)