  Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Maintained byCDOT | |
| Length | 115 mi[1] (185 km) |
| Existed | 1993–present |
| Major junctions | |
| South end |  SH 82 inAspen or SH 82 /US 24 2 miles (3 km) north ofGranite |
| North end |  I-70 exit 171 2 miles (3 km) north ofMinturn orI-70 exit 195 atCopper Mountain |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| Counties | Eagle,Lake,Pitkin,Summit |
| Highway system | |
| |
TheTop of the Rockies National Scenic Byway[1][2][3] is aNational Scenic Byway andColorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in the highRocky Mountains ofEagle,Lake,Pitkin,Summit counties,Colorado, United States. The 115-mile (185 km) byway showcases the two highest peaks of theRocky Mountains:Mount Elbert at elevation 14,440 feet (4,401.2 m) andMount Massive at elevation 14,428 feet (4,398 m). The byway connects with theCollegiate Peaks Scenic Byway at the junction ofColorado State Highway 82 andU.S. Highway 24.
The byway has two northern extensions. The northwestern extension extends from the historic mining town ofLeadville overTennessee Pass toInterstate 70 nearMinturn. The northeastern extension extends from Leadville overFremont Pass to I-70 atCopper Mountain. The two extensions can be driven together as a tour from I-70 to Leadville and back to I-70.
The byway crosses theContinental Divide atIndependence Pass at 12,095 feet (3,687 m) elevation,Fremont Pass at 11,318 feet (3,450 m) elevation, andTennessee Pass at 10,424 feet (3,177 m) elevation. Independence Pass is closed from October to May. Thegold miningghost town ofIndependence is ahistoric townsite 2.2 miles (4 km) west ofIndependence Pass. TheLeadville Historic District is aNational Historic Landmark.History Colorado operates theHealy House Museum andDexter Cabin inLeadville. TheCity of Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America with a downtown elevation of 10,152 feet (3,094 m).
The byway starts inAspen, traveling onSH 82 east overIndependence Pass and near theTwin Lakes to just north of the town ofGranite. The route then continues north onUS 24 throughLeadville toInterstate 70 (I-70). A spur of the byway continues along the entire length ofSH 91 from Leadville toCopper Mountain, throughFremont Pass.[4]
| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitkin | Aspen | 0.0 | 0.0 |  SH 82 west | |
| Lake | |  US 24 south | Byway continues on US 24 north | ||
| Leadville |   SH 91 north | ||||
| Eagle | Minturn |  I-70 /US 6 –Denver,Grand Junction | Western terminus of US 24 | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake | | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 24 | |
| Summit | | 22.605 | 36.379 | I-70 | Interchange |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
39°14′54″N106°17′30″W / 39.2483°N 106.2917°W /39.2483; -106.2917 (Leadville, Colorado, USA)
