U.S. Route 160 in Colorado

U.S. Route 160 (US 160) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from Tuba City, Arizona, to Poplar Bluff, Missouri. In the State of Colorado, US 160 starts at the New Mexico state line southwest of Cortez and ends at the Kansas state line east of Springfield.

U.S. Highway 160
Map of Colorado with US 160 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by CDOT
Length490.0 mi (788.6 km)
Existed1926–present
Major junctions
West end US 160 at the New Mexico state line
 
East end US-160 at the Kansas state line
Location
CountiesMontezuma, La Plata, Archuleta, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Costilla, Huerfano, Las Animas, Baca
Highway system
Colorado State Highways
SH 159 SH 165

Route description

US 160 entering the Wolf Creek Pass tunnel

US 160 enters Colorado near the Four Corners Monument. It goes northeast and intersects US 491, then turns north to enter Cortez with US 491. East of Cortez, a road leads south from US 160 to Mesa Verde National Park. It continues east to Durango, where it intersects US 550. After overlapping with US 550 south of Durango, US 160 turns east and meets US 84 at Pagosa Springs. It then goes northeast and crosses the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass, the area made popular in 1975 in C.W. McCall's album Wolf Creek Pass.

US 160 in La Veta Pass

From Wolf Creek Pass, US 160 continues northeast and turns east at South Fork. At Monte Vista, an overlap begins with US 285, which continues southeast into Alamosa. It turns east, then goes northeast to go through North La Veta Pass, then continues east to Walsenburg, where it intersects Interstate 25 (I-25).

The Spanish Peaks (East Spanish Peak at far left, West Spanish Peak to its right) and Trinchera Peak in the distance, taken from along U.S. 160, about 8 miles (13 km) west of Walsenburg

From Walsenberg, US 160 continues south with I-25 to Trinidad, then turns northeast to intersect US 350. It continues east, passing through the Comanche National Grassland before intersecting the concurrent US 287 and US 385 south of Springfield. It continues east and enters Kansas east of Walsh.

History

U.S. Highway 164
LocationFlagstaff, AZCortez, CO
Existed1964–1970

As commissioned in 1930 the western terminus was Trinidad.[1] In 1939, US 160 absorbed all of former route U.S. Highway 450 which ran from US 50 at Crescent Junction, Utah to US 85 at Walsenburg.[2]

In 1970, many US Highways in the Four Corners region were realigned. US 160 was diverted southwesterly from Cortez to follow its present route past the Four Corners into Arizona, absorbing the route numbered U.S. Highway 164.[3]

Junction list

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Montezuma0.000.00 US 160 west Four Corners, Flagstaff AZContinuation into New Mexico
4.97.9 SH 41Southern Terminus of SH-41
18.229.3 US 491 ShiprockWestern end of US 491 concurrency
Cortez37.961.0 US 491 MonticelloEastern end of US 491 concurrency
40.364.9 SH 145 TellurideSouthern Terminus of SH-145
Mancos4572Mesa Top Ruins RdInterchange
54.687.9
US 160 Bus.
56.090.1 SH 184 Dolores
57.091.7
US 160 Bus.
La PlataHesperus72.7117.0 SH 140 Kline, Redmesa
Durango83.2133.9 US 550 SilvertonWestern end of US 550 concurrency
85.9138.2 SH 3 north
87.6141.0 US 550 BloomfieldEastern end of US 550 concurrency
90.6145.8 Wilson Gulch DriveInterchange; access to Mercy Regional Medical Center
90.6145.8 SH 172 OxfordAccess to Durango-La Plata County Airport
Bayfield100.6161.9
US 160 Bus.
102.7165.3
US 160 Bus.
Archuleta126.1202.9 SH 151 Arboles
Pagosa Springs143.5230.9 US 84 south ChamaNorthern terminus of US 84
Mineral
No major junctions
Rio GrandeSouth Fork184.9297.6 SH 149 Rio Grande National Forest
Del Norte200.9323.3 SH 112 Center
Monte Vista214.5345.2 US 285 north (North Broadway) / SH 15 south (South Broadway)Western end of US 285 concurrency
AlamosaAlamosa231.6372.7 SH 17 south / US 285 AntonitoEastern end of US 285 concurrency; western end of SH 17 concurrency
Rio Grande232.6374.3Bridge
Alamosa East232.8374.7 SH 17 north Salida, Buena VistaEastern end of SH 17 concurrency
Costilla246.7397.0 SH 150 north Great Sand Dunes National Park
Fort Garland257.1413.8 SH 159 San Luis
Huerfano292.9471.4 SH 12 La Veta
Walsenburg304.1489.4 I-25 BL south (Main Street south) to I-25 southWestern end of I-25 Bus. concurrency
304.3489.7Main Street north (I-25 BL north)Eastern end of I-25 Bus. concurrency
305.2491.2 I-25 north (US 85 / US 87 north) / SH 10 east Pueblo, La JuntaWestern end of I-25/US 85/US 87 concurrency; I-25 exit 50; western terminus of SH 10
See I-25
Las AnimasTrinidad340.4547.8 I-25 south (US 85 / US 87 south) / Goddard AvenueEastern end of I-25/US 85/US 87 concurrency; I-25 exit 15
SH 239 northNo access eastbound
341.2549.1 Main StreetServes Mt. San Rafael Hospital; former US 160 west
346.6557.8 US 350 east La JuntaAccess to Perry Stokes Airport
375.8604.8 SH 389 Branson
409.5659.0 SH 109 La Junta
BacaSpringfield457.1735.6 US 287 / US 385 Amarillo, Odessa, Denver, Lamar
465.0748.3 SH 100 Vilas
490.0788.6 US-160 east Johnson CityContinuation into Kansas
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. U.S. Highway Ends by Dale Sanderson (Mapguy), Last Retrieved September 25, 2007
  2. U.S. Highway Ends by Dale Sanderson (Mapguy), Last Retrieved September 25, 2007
  3. U.S. Highway Ends by Dale Sanderson (Mapguy), Last Retrieved September 25, 2007
U.S. Route 160
Previous state:
New Mexico
Colorado Next state:
Kansas
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