U.S. 350 travels 72.72 miles northeast from U.S. 160 near Trinidad to U.S. 50 in the Otero County seat of La Junta. The rural highway branches northeast from U.S. 160 Beshoar, paralleling the Purgatorie River across agricultural areas to Trinidad - Perry Stokes Airport (TAD). Running alongside a BNSF Railroad, U.S. 350 advances north across Tyrone Flats.
U.S. 350 runs along the west side of Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS), part of Fort Carson, from Simpson northeast to Thatcher. Passing west of the Bear Springs Hills, U.S. 350 continues north into Otero County between Devils Canyon and the Bloom Hills. The highway crosses part of Comanche National Grassland northeast to the Iron Springs Hills and the unincorporated community of Timpas.
Continuing parallel to the BNSF Railroad, U.S. 350 reaches the city of La Junta along Potter Drive. U.S. 350 follows W 5th Street east by Potter Park and Grant Avenue north two blocks to U.S. 50.
Historically, U.S. 350 overlapped with U.S. 160 southwest from Beshoar Junction to U.S. 85 (Commercial Street) in the city of Trinidad. U.S. 160/350 were slightly extended west along Main Street with the relocation of U.S. 85/87 onto an expressway (I-25) by 1959. U.S. 160 was realigned onto a bypass of Trinidad to the north by 1992, and around that time the overlap with U.S. 350 from Beshoar Junction was dropped.1
Through La Junta, U.S. 350 originally followed 6th Street east, Grant Avenue north, 5th Street east, and Santa Fe Avenue north to U.S. 50 on 3rd Street. This changed by 1932, with U.S. 350 truncated to the intersection of Grand Avenue and 3rd Street. U.S. 350 was relocated again by 1934, following Potter Drive northeast to U.S. 50.
Potter Drive was severed from 3rd Street by the 1960s, so U.S. 350 was redirected onto 5th Street east to Barnes Avenue to connect with U.S. 50. The final change took place in 2012, with U.S. 350 relocated off Barnes Avenue in order to shift truck traffic away from a residential area.1 The application submitted to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on March 1, 2012 cited a mileage swap of 0.41 miles to the City of La Junta and 0.13 miles for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
 East |
 | The settlement of Model lies 14 miles northeast from the beginning of U.S. 350. 04/28/17 |
 | The first confirming marker for U.S. 350. U.S. 350 passes by Mike Gagliardi Reservoir just beyond U.S. 160. 04/28/17 |
| West |
 | U.S. 350 converges with U.S. 160 at Beshoar, 3.5 miles from the Trinidad city limits. 04/28/17 |
 | U.S. 160 travels across southeastern Colorado to U.S. 287/385 south of Springfield. 04/28/17 |
 | Historically U.S. 350 continued southwest into Trinidad alongside U.S. 160. 04/28/17 |
- Colorado Highways: Routes 334 to 366 (Matt Salek).
http://www.mesalek.com/colo/r334-366.html.
Photo Credits:
04/28/17 by AARoads
Page Updated 01-28-2022.