U.S. Route 6 in Colorado
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state
of Colorado
, U.S. Route 6 (US 6) is an east–west highway stretching from Colorado
to Nebraska
. Much of the route overlaps other highways in Colorado, and as a result, much of US 6 is unsigned.
for a significant portion of its length from the Utah state line to Denver
. Within the city limits, US 6 follows Denver's 6th Avenue (known as "6th Avenue Freeway"). The highway then travels north briefly, and follows Interstate 76 for most of its length east of Denver. It is unsigned while it is overlapped. The highest altitude along US 6 is 11990 feet (3,654.6 m) at Loveland Pass
, where it crosses the Continental Divide
. It continues down Clear Creek
Valley until it reaches I-70, where it is briefly overlapped until I-70 leaves Clear Creek Valley. US 6 continues down Clear Creek and into Denver, where it turns into a freeway with 6 lanes. East of Denver, it continues east while joined with I-76 until it reaches Sterling
, where it diverges from the interstate. The last town in Colorado it passes is Holyoke
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
, U.S. Route 6 (US 6) is an east–west highway stretching from 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...
to Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. Much of the route overlaps other highways in Colorado, and as a result, much of US 6 is unsigned.
Route description
US 6 is concurrent with Interstate 70Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
for a significant portion of its length from the Utah state line to Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. Within the city limits, US 6 follows Denver's 6th Avenue (known as "6th Avenue Freeway"). The highway then travels north briefly, and follows Interstate 76 for most of its length east of Denver. It is unsigned while it is overlapped. The highest altitude along US 6 is 11990 feet (3,654.6 m) at Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass
Loveland Pass, elevation 11,990 ft. above sea level, is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of north-central Colorado, U.S.A.....
, where it crosses the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
. It continues down Clear Creek
Clear Creek (Colorado)
Clear Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately long, in north central Colorado in the United States. The creek flows through Clear Creek Canyon in the Rocky Mountains directly west of Denver, descending through a long gorge to emerge on the Colorado Eastern Plains where it...
Valley until it reaches I-70, where it is briefly overlapped until I-70 leaves Clear Creek Valley. US 6 continues down Clear Creek and into Denver, where it turns into a freeway with 6 lanes. East of Denver, it continues east while joined with I-76 until it reaches Sterling
Sterling, Colorado
The City of Sterling is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Logan County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 14,777 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sterling is located at...
, where it diverges from the interstate. The last town in Colorado it passes is Holyoke
Holyoke, Colorado
The City of Holyoke is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Phillips County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,261 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Holyoke is located at ....
.
Major intersections
- Note: only major junctions are shown on overlaps with Interstate Highways.
County Location Mile #(for overlaps) Destinations Notes Mesa Mesa County, ColoradoMesa County is the fourth most extensive and the eleventh most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado in the United States. The county was named for the many large mesas in the area, including Grand Mesa. The county population was 146,723 at the 2010 United States Census. The...0.000 Western terminus of US 6 in Colorado Mack Mack, ColoradoMack is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office located about 10 miles east of the Colorado/Utah border in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. The Mack Post Office has the ZIP Code 81525...11.212 11 - Salina, UT Salina, UtahSalina is a city in Sevier County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,393 at the 2000 census.-History:The first permanent settlers moved into the area in 1864 at the direction of leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...East end of I-70 overlap Loma Loma, ColoradoLoma is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office located northwest of Grand Junction in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. The Loma Post Office has the ZIP Code 81524.Loma is home to Loma Elementary School, whose mascot is the lion...15.132 15 Fruita Fruita, ColoradoThe City of Fruita is a Home Rule Municipality located in the western part of Mesa County, Colorado, in the United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area and within the Grand Valley...19.781 19 - Colorado National Monument Colorado National Monument- Trails :The Monument contains many hiking trails, with lengths and difficulties to suit all tastes. Summer storms can cause flash floods as well as dangerous trail conditions. Rattlesnakes are found on the Monument, and rough terrain exists everywhere, but most trails are well-maintained...
, RedlandsRedlands, ColoradoRedlands is a census-designated place in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. The population was 8,685 at the 2010 census. It is an unincorporated community comprising the area between the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita.-Geography:...Grand Junction Grand Junction, ColoradoThe City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...25.998 26 East end of I-70 overlap 27.885 F Road 28.006 24 Road north, Redland Parkway south 29.125 25 Road 30.270 East end of US 50 overlap 34.375 West end of I-70 Bus. overlap Clifton Clifton, ColoradoClifton is a census-designated place in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 19,889 at the 2010 census...36.442 36.885 F Road 37.651 44 West end of I-70 overlap 45.332 46 Cameo 46.867 47 Road E Former port of entry Weigh stationA weigh station is a checkpoint along a highway to inspect vehicular weights. Usually, trucks and commercial vehicles are subject to the inspection....49.015 49 61.648 62 De Beque De Beque, ColoradoDe Beque is a Statutory Town in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 504 at the 2010 census. The town consists of a small grid, including a historic downtown featuring a town hall, a tavern, and several commercial...Garfield Garfield County, ColoradoGarfield County is the eighth most extensive and the twelfth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 43,791 at U.S. Census 2000. The county is named in honor of United States President James A. Garfield...Parachute Parachute, ColoradoThe Town of Parachute is a Statutory Town in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,006 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Parachute is located at ....75.152 75 Parachute Parachute, ColoradoThe Town of Parachute is a Statutory Town in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,006 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Parachute is located at ....
, Battlement MesaBattlement Mesa, ColoradoBattlement Mesa is a census-designated place located in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,471 at the 2010 census...81.236 81 Rulison 86.850 87 East end of I-70 overlap Rifle Rifle, ColoradoThe City of Rifle is a Home Rule Municipality in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 6,769 at the 2000 census. Rifle is a regional center of the cattle ranching industry located along Interstate 70 and the Colorado River just east of the Roan Cliffs, which dominate the...90.422 109.000 West end of I-70 overlap 111.328 111 South Canyon Creek Road Glenwood Springs Glenwood Springs, ColoradoThe City of Glenwood Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 8,564 in 2005...114.295 114 West Glenwood 116.380 116 118.640 119 No Name No Name, ColoradoNo Name is a census-designated place in Garfield County, Colorado. The population as of the 2010 Census was 123. It is located east of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, off exit 119 of Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon. It is named for No Name Creek and No Name Canyon...120.954 121 Grizzly Creek – Hanging Lake 122.588 123 Shoshone Access Road Eastbound exit and westbound entrance 124.970 125 Hanging Lake Eastbound exit and westbound entrance Hanging Lake Tunnel Hanging Lake TunnelThe Hanging Lake Tunnel is a dual bore highway tunnel carrying Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 6 through a mountain bordering Glenwood Canyon, just east of exit #125 in Garfield County, Colorado, USA.-Description:...128.314 129 Bair Ranch Road Eagle Eagle County, ColoradoEagle County is the thirteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county is named for the Eagle River. The county population was 41,659 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the Town of Eagle...133.384 133 Dotsero Dotsero, Colorado- Volcano :Dotsero is built at the base of Colorado's most recently active volcano, the Dotsero Crater, which, according to the United States Geological Survey, erupted 4,140 years ago....139.533 140 East end of I-70 overlap 158.111 159.002 - To I-70 174.54 171 West end of I-70 overlap Vail Vail, ColoradoThe Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...173.319 173 West Vail 175.872 176 Vail Ski Area – Vail Museum 179.866 180 East Vail Summit Summit County, ColoradoSummit County is the 19th most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 23,538 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Breckenridge...190.095 190 Vail Pass Vail PassVail Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. The pass was named for Charles Vail, a highway engineer.Vail Pass lies on the boundary between Eagle and Summit counties, between Vail on the west and Copper Mountain on the east. It provides the route of Interstate 70...
, Shrine Pass Road195.298 195 198.254 198 Officers Gulch Frisco Frisco, ColoradoFrisco is a home rule municipality in Summit County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,443 at the 2000 census. It is a popular town among skiers from around the world...200.995 201 Main Street 202.352 203 West end of SH 9 overlap Silverthorne Silverthorne, ColoradoThe Town of Silverthorne is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous town in Summit County, Colorado. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,610.-Geography:...205.423 205 East end of I-70 overlap Clear Creek Clear Creek County, ColoradoClear 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...229.325 West end of I-70 overlap 218.346 218 Herman Gulch Road 221.297 221 Bakerville Silver Plume Silver Plume, ColoradoThe historic Town of Silver Plume is a Statutory Town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. Silver Plume is a former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...225.719 226 Silver Plume Silver Plume, ColoradoThe historic Town of Silver Plume is a Statutory Town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. Silver Plume is a former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...Georgetown Georgetown, ColoradoThe historic town of Georgetown is a Territorial Charter Municipality that is the county seat of Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains was established in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush...227.910 228 Georgetown Georgetown, ColoradoThe historic town of Georgetown is a Territorial Charter Municipality that is the county seat of Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains was established in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush...231.889 232 West end of US 40 overlap 233.047 233 Lawson Lawson, ColoradoLawson is a small unincorporated town situated along Clear Creek in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. Lawson is a part of the Downieville-Lawson-Dumont census-designated place.-See also:* Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area...Eastbound exit only 234.209 234 Downieville Downieville, ColoradoDownieville is a small unincorporated town situated along Clear Creek in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. Downieville is a part of the Downieville-Lawson-Dumont census-designated place.-Geography:...
, LawsonLawson, ColoradoLawson is a small unincorporated town situated along Clear Creek in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. Lawson is a part of the Downieville-Lawson-Dumont census-designated place.-See also:* Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area...235.005 235 Dumont Dumont, ColoradoDumont is a small unincorporated town and U.S. Post Office situated along Clear Creek in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The Dumont Post Office has the ZIP Code 80436...Westbound exit and eastbound entrance 237.660 238 Fall River Road Idaho Springs Idaho Springs, ColoradoThe 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...238.885 239 239.652 240 241.125 241 Signed as exit 241A (I-70 Bus.) and exit 241B (E Idaho Springs Road) eastbound 242.980 243 Hidden Valley, Central City Central City, ColoradoCentral City is a home rule municipality in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Gilpin County. The city population was 515 in the 2000 United States Census...251.001 East end of I-70/US 40 overlap 257.296 Jefferson Jefferson County, ColoradoJefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....Golden Golden, ColoradoThe City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...271.60 273.397 275.12 275.656 West end of 6th Ave freeway 276.003 Lakewood Lakewood, ColoradoLakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...276.998 Indiana Street 277.002 Union Boulevard, Simms Street 277.31 278.795 Garrison Street 280.83 281.984 282.33 Knox Court Denver Denver Denver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...283.86 284.47 East end of 6th Ave freeway/South end of I-25 overlap 286.272 209C 8th Avenue 287.310 210A 287.661 210C Auraria Parkway Northbound exit and southbound entrance 288.008 210B 17th Avenue Southbound exit (to 20th Avenue) is via exit 211 289.167 211 23rd Avenue 289.985 212 Speer Boulevard – Downtown Denver Signed as exits 212A (south) and 212B (north) 290.425 212C 20th Street 291.479 213 Park Avenue, West 38th Avenue 290.090 292.090 214A North end of I-25 overlap/West end of I-70 overlap 292.815 275A Washington Street Eastbound signed exit 274 293.226 275B 292.661 275C York Street / Josephine Street Eastbound exit and westbound entrance 293.194 276A East end of I-70 overlap (final) Adams Adams County, ColoradoAdams County is the fifth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 441,603 in 2010 census, a 21.4% increase since 2000 census. Adams County is named for Alva Adams, Governor of the...Commerce City Commerce City, ColoradoThe city of Commerce City is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County, Colorado, United States. Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver and now the 18th most populous municipality in the state of Colorado...294 294.550 295.995 West end of I-76 overlap 296.466 10 88th Avenue 297.114 11 96th Avenue 298.345 12 East end of US 85 overlap; no eastbound entrance Commerce City Commerce City, ColoradoThe city of Commerce City is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County, Colorado, United States. Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver and now the 18th most populous municipality in the state of Colorado...302.285 16 304.661 18 , 
Denver International AirportDenver International AirportDenver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...Westbound exit and eastbound entrance Brighton Brighton, ColoradoBrighton is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Adams County. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 31,380 in 2008.-Geography:...305.219 20 136th Avenue 307.828 21 144th Avenue 308.626 22 Bromley Lane 310.994 25 Weld Weld County, ColoradoAs of the census of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...Hudson Hudson, ColoradoHudson is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hudson is located at ....316.269 31 319.220 34 Kersey Road 324.160 39 Keenesburg Keenesburg, ColoradoKeenesburg is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 855 at the 2000 census. The population has grown exponentially.-Geography:Keenesburg is located at ....
(I-76 Bus. south)333.302 48 Roggen Roggen, ColoradoRoggen is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The Roggen Post Office has the ZIP Code 80652....334.007 49 Painter Road Westbound exit and eastbound entrance 342.652 57 County Road 91 345.225 60 Morgan Morgan County, ColoradoMorgan County is the 18th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan. The county population was 27,171 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the...348.226 64 Wiggins Wiggins, ColoradoWiggins is a Statutory village in Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 001 at the 2000 census.The community was established in 1882 as the Burlington railroad depot of Corona. Around 1900, Corona was renamed in honor of Oliver P. Wiggins, who served as a guide and scout for...Eastbound exit and westbound entrance 350.314 66A 350.535 66B West end of US 34 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance 357.219 73 Long Bridge Road 359.789 75 East end of US 34 overlap 364.054 79 Fort Morgan Fort Morgan, ColoradoThe City of Fort Morgan is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.-History:...365.243 80 366.993 82 Barlow Road – Fort Morgan Fort Morgan, ColoradoThe City of Fort Morgan is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.-History:...370.076 86 Dodd Bridge Road 373.368 89 Hospital Road 375.042 90 Signed as exits 90A (south) and 90B (north) 379.192 East end of US I-76 overlap Logan Logan County, ColoradoLogan County is the 23rd most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for General John A. Logan. The county population was 20,504 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Sterling...Atwood Atwood, ColoradoAtwood is a census-designated place in Logan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 133 at the 2010 census. The Atwood Post Office has the ZIP Code 80722.-Geography:Atwood is located at ....405.187 Sterling Sterling, ColoradoThe City of Sterling is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Logan County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 14,777 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sterling is located at...412.061 412.689 
US 138U.S. Route 138U.S. Route 138, commissioned in 1926, is a short east–west highway in Colorado and Nebraska that runs predominantly northeast to southwest paralleling the South Platte River and Interstate 76. Like all spurs of the former U.S. Route 66 and U.S. Route 199, U.S. Route 138 is an orphan route....
east- JulesburgJulesburg, ColoradoThe historic town of Julesburg is a statutory town that is the county seat of Sedgwick County, Colorado, United States. The town is located on the north side of the South Platte River. The population was 1,467 at the U.S. Census 2000...414.116 414.317 Fleming Fleming, ColoradoFleming is a Statutory Town in Logan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 426 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fleming is located at ....431.121 Phillips Phillips County, ColoradoPhillips County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named in honor of R.O. Phillips, a secretary of the Lincoln Land Company, who organized several towns in Colorado. The county population was 4,480 at U.S. Census 2000...Haxtun Haxtun, ColoradoHaxtun is a Statutory Town in Phillips County, Colorado, United States. The population was 982 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Haxtun is located at ....444.295 Holyoke Holyoke, ColoradoThe City of Holyoke is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Phillips County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,261 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Holyoke is located at ....457.213 467.284 Eastern terminus of US 6 in Colorado