Colorado State Highway 103


State Highway 103 in the U.S. state of Colorado runs from Interstate 70, U.S. Route 6 and US 40 at Idaho Springs to county roads 151 and 103 at Squaw Pass. The 13 miles from Idaho Springs to SH 5 forms about half of the Mount Evans Scenic Byway.

Route description

The route begins at Idaho Springs, where it heads southwest away from the center of the city and follows the Chicago Creek. After exiting the city, the route begins climbing in elevation, ultimately reaching an elevation of about 10,000 feet, where it meets SH 5, at Echo Lake Park. Together with SH 5, the route to this point forms the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, the highest paved road in North America. Then the route continues through Squaw Pass, along the upper end of Echo Mountain Ski Area and on to its terminus at County Route 151. Past this point, the highway is not marked by CDOT, but the rest of what is called Squaw Pass Road descends toward Evergreen.

History

The route was established in 1923, where it began at US 285 and traversed to Idaho Springs. The segment east of Squaw Pass was renumbered in 1954, and the route was entirely paved by 1956.

Gallery

Major intersections