Glenwood Canyon, CO
Standing on the old highway looking at the new. The railroad cuts through just beyond the bridge at river level.

The old highway was a windy, twisty 2-lane for the most part. Not much traffic through here but enough to hang you up when much of the road is a No Passing zone.

I-70 hadn’t been built through here yet in the days when I was riding bikes* instead of pickups. A great road for motorcycles if the traffic wasn’t bad.

The last stretch of I-70 built in Colorado was through the canyon from Glenwood Springs to Dotsero. I recall the 2-lane dumping out at the Yampa Spa on what is now 6th St to what was then “West Glenwood”. It’s built up a bit around there since … I think the highway was finished in the mid-80s?

*I miss my bike(s) but the voice inside my head told me the next accident won’t hurt a bit …

Much of the old highway through the canyon is gone now but there’s this stretch where the old highway followed the river around the bluffs; the Interstate cuts through. Anyway, Hanging Lake is along this stretch; the old highway is part of the parking lot. Awkward exit – you have to run around an exit to reverse direction … it’s been a while but I think the only exit is on the eastbound side but you can’t get back on eastbound.

Or vice-versa

I’m told that the traffic at Hanging Lake has gotten so heavy that a fee is now charged. It’s a fairly strenuous hike up to the lake but I’ve done it enough times that I don’t care to visit a place so crowded it has entrance fees … nor do I wish to pay a fee for a place I’ve been to many times in the past.

But if you’re of a mind to, it’s well worth at least one visit.