Colorado State Highway 65


State Highway 65 is a state highway in Colorado that crosses the Grand Mesa. The highway along with a road to Lands End Overlook were designated as the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway in 1996. SH 65's southern terminus is at SH 92 east of Delta, and its northern terminus is at Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 6 northeast of Palisade.

Route description

SH 65 runs, starting at a junction with SH 92 east of Delta. The highway heads north, crossing the Gunnison River, through Orchard City and Cedaredge. The highway then enters Grand Mesa National Forest climbing to the top of Grand Mesa. It then drops down the north side of Grand Mesa, ending at a junction with I-70 northeast of Palisade.

Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway

The byway runs north from Cedaredge along Highway 65, to the top of the Grand Mesa at more than 10,000 feet. It also includes Land's End Road to the Land's End Observatory from Highway 65. The byway continues past Island Lake, one of more than 300 trout-filled lakes in Grand Mesa National Forest. On the north side of the Mesa are the towns of Mesa, Collbran, and Powderhorn Ski Resort. The byway continues along De Beque Canyon, with its colorful sandstone bluffs, and eventually meets Interstate 70 in the town of De Beque.
Historic and scenic byway designations:
Scenic Overlooks include:
and Mt. Garfield, near Grand Junction, Colorado

Major intersections

Gallery