Colorado @ AARoads - Interstate 70 - Garfield County (Eastbound)

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Interstate 70 - Garfield County (Eastbound)

Interstate 70/U.S. 6 East
Upon leaving Glenwood Springs, Interstate 70/U.S. 6 pass by this mileage sign, indicating that Denver is 158 miles east of here. The freeway now enters scenic Glenwood Canyon, home to one of the most expensive highway projects in the country. Originally, U.S. 6 followed a narrow path alongside the Colorado River, but today that original highway generally carries the eastbound lanes. A new, primarily elevated set of lanes carries the westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 above the original lanes, thus creating a bridge structure that follows the walls of the canyon. Photo taken 08/28/04.
This is the first Interstate 70 reassurance shield after the Colorado 82 interchange in Glenwood Springs. The famous mineral hot springs that give Glenwood Springs its name is located to the north of the freeway, and the bath house, ancillary buildings, and rising steam can be seen from the freeway. Photo taken 08/28/04.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Gypsum (24 miles) and Denver (158 miles). Omitted are Eagle, Vail, Frisco, Dillon/Silverthorne, and Idaho Springs. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Now entering Glenwood Canyon, eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 have precious little room to spare, but at least through this stretch, the two carriageways for eastbound and westbound can share the same alignment. That will change as the canyon's real estate grows narrower and narrower: the freeway, railroad, and river all compete for limited space. For much more on the history of the Glenwood Canyon's construction, please visit Matt Salek's Glenwood Canyon page. The railroad remains on the southern banks of the Colorado River, while the freeway takes the northern banks. Photo taken 08/28/04.
This is the first of several tunnels utilized on the Interstate 70/U.S. 6 corridor through Glenwood Canyon. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Tunnels were employed in Glenwood Canyon to ensure the most minimal impact possible when building the freeway through Glenwood Canyon. This is the first of three sets of tunnels. Both directions will use the first two tunnels, but the third tunnel is used by westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 only. Photo taken 08/28/04.

The first exit that serves Glenwood Canyon along eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 is Exit 119, Garfield County Route 129 north, No Name Creek Road, 0.50 mile. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Camping, a popular activity in the White River National Forest, is readily available at Exit 119 (No Name). Photo taken 08/28/04.
On the face of it, this sign is fairly humorous, since it identifies a place without a name. However, it is called "No Name" because the No Name Creek flows into the Colorado River at this exit. Garfield County Route 129 follows No Name Creek north into the national forest. There is a rest area located at this exit with full facilities. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 at the gore point for Exit 119, Garfield County Route 129 north, which follows No Name Creek into the White River National Forest. A bike path follows the eastbound lanes between the freeway and the river, offering an unparalleled close-up of the freeway. Photo taken 11/08/03.
Between the Utah-Colorado State Line and Exit 133/Dotsero, Interstate 70/U.S. 6 parallel the Colorado River, which drains most of the Southwestern States. The river originates in Rocky Mountain National Park, and it flows southwest through the Centennial State through Granby, Hot Sulfur Springs, Kremmling, McCoy, and Burns before reaching Glenwood Canyon. This is the only spot on the Colorado River where it shares such proximity to an Interstate highway; for the most part, the river avoids most roads, especially as it passes through Canyonlands, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Black Canyon, and Lake Havasu. This is also an example of the Colorado River untamed, when compared to the system of dams that hold back its flow through Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. The aforementioned bike path is clearly visible next to the river and freeway. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Exit 121 serves Grizzly Creek and is also a rest area. It is signed with brown signs after this initial blue sign. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The westbound lanes begin to ascend to a higher grade than the eastbound lanes, which is a prevailing theme in Glenwood Canyon. An engineering marvel, the use of a bridge span in an environmentally challenging environment for the westbound lanes made this freeway very difficult to construct. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The primary construction of the canyon freeway went from 1984 until the opening date of October 14, 1992. (Thanks to Matt Salek for the opening date of the segment of freeway between No Name/Exit 119 and Dotsero/Exit 133 ... like we said before, visit his site!) Photo taken 08/28/04.
The eastbound lanes remain close to the Colorado River while the westbound lanes are at the top of the slope to the left. This configurations enables the two directions to ride on top of each other in the narrowest stretches of Glenwood Canyon. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 at Exit 121, Grizzly Creek. Note how the westbound lanes are still on a higher elevation at this exit; they will get even higher as we travel further into the canyon. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 is Exit 123, Shoshone, 0.75 mile. Photo taken 08/28/04.
At Milepost 122, this view shows the dual carriageways of Interstate 70/U.S. 6 alongside the river as the freeway stays snug against the southern wall of the canyon. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 123, Shoshone. There is no return access to eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 from this exit; all traffic is directed back to westbound Interstate 70. Photo taken 08/28/04.
After Exit 123, Interstate 70/U.S. 6 continue on partial viaducts through this stretch of Glenwood Canyon. Photo taken 08/28/04.
An Amtrak passenger train passes through Glenwood Canyon as the Colorado River narrows a bit just prior to Exit 125, Hanging Lake. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 approaches Exit 125, Hanging Lake, 0.75 mile. Again, there is no return access to eastbound. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Even the eastbound lanes rise above the Colorado River, as shown in this picture. The bicycle lanes remain close to the river. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 125, Hanging Lake. A beautiful hike to Hanging Lake is afforded by using the trailhead that begins from this interchange. Photo taken 08/28/04.
This odd gore point sign for Exit 125 ensures that travelers know to stay left for the continuation of Interstate 70 eastbound, while the right lane exits onto the frontage road leading to the Hanging Lake trailhead and parking area. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The second tunnel along eastbound Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon is located immediately after the Hanging Lake interchange. Photo taken 08/28/04.
All five of the tunnels in the canyon (two eastbound, three westbound) have similar design features, including lane allocation sign bridges. These signals allow for temporary re-routing of traffic for maintenance needs as well as emergencies. Photo taken 08/28/04.
After departing the second set of tunnels, eastbound and westbound traffic are at the same elevation. Photo taken 08/28/04.
After leaving the tunnel, the westbound lanes remain above grade, while the eastbound lanes remain at the same level as the river and railroad. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The westbound lanes continue to fly above the eastbound lanes and the river, thus allowing for minimal intrusion of the freeway into the natural environment. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The eastbound lanes remain on the floor of the canyon, remaining close to the water level of the Colorado River. Photo taken 08/28/04.
It is common to see rafters and canoeists along the Colorado River, especially in summer. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The third tunnel set in Glenwood Canyon only affects westbound Interstate 70. This picture shows the top of the exit portal of the westbound tunnel from eastbound near Milepost 127. The eastbound lanes skirt the rock wall rather than piercing through it. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Here, the westbound tunnel comes into a clearer view, as seen from eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6. Photo taken 08/28/04.
While westbound traffic uses the tunnel, eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 squeeze between the wall of rock and the Colorado River. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 is Exit 129, Bair Canyon/Rest Area, one-half mile. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Exit 129 is the second rest area along this stretch of Interstate 70, and unlike Exits 123 and 125, Exit 129 features access back to the eastbound freeway for a change! Photo taken 08/28/04.
The freeway leaves the White River National Forest, but it will not leave Glenwood Canyon for another mile or two. Photo taken 08/28/04.
Eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 129, Bair Canyon/Rest Area. The freeway exits the White River National Forest here. Photo taken 08/28/04.
A state name Interstate 70 Colorado shield is placed immediately after the onramp from Bair Canyon. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The freeway, river, and railroad pass through one more narrow rock canyon, which widens out into the Eagle River Valley. Photo taken 08/28/04.
The canyon widens out into a much wider valley; the trip through Glenwood Canyon on eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6 comes to a conclusion. Just ahead, the freeway departs from Garfield County and enters Eagle County. Photo taken 08/28/04.

Page Updated June 22, 2005.