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Colorado State #145
Colorado State Highway 145 - Cortez to Placerville
Colorado Road Map Travel Guide

Part of the San Juan Skyway. Highway 145 runs from Cortez through the San Juan mountains to Telluride. Running out of Cortez through Dolores, along the Dolores River, over Lizard Head Pass, past Trout Lake, brushing Ophir, you approach awesome Telluride. Following the San Miguel River to Placerville, you meet route 62 that turns right to Ridgway. Follow this road for possibly the most beautiful mountain range in the country, the Sneffels Range.

Adobe Colorado Road Map Travel Log Printer Version PDF

Km

Miles

Road Item

Road Summary

0.0
(135.8)
0.0
(84.4)
Junction of Highway # 160 - Welcome to Colorado
Colorado Highway 145 starts at eastern portion of Cortez, Colorado, off Highway 160. It starts in a northeasterly direction. Part of this Highway Travel Guide Is called 'San Juan Skyway', a National Scenic Byway.
12.7
(123.1)
7.9
(76.5)
Anasazi Heritage Site/McFee Reservoir
The Anasazi Heritage Center is to the left, and turnoff to McFee Reservoir, one of Colorado's largest, is to the right.
13.8
(122.0)
8.6
(75.8)
Mancos turnoff.
Highway 184 turns right to Mancos.
14.8
(121.0)
9.2
(75.2)
Dolores River
At this point, the Dolores River is crossed.
15.3
(120.5)
9.5
(74.9)
Dolores, Colorado
Enter Dolores, elevation 6936. It is a small ranching/fishing/outdoors town, from which 145 climbs into the mountains.
27.4
(108.5)
17.0
(67.4)
Dolores River
The Dolores River, a great fishing and rafting river, begins to parallel 145 and does so for several miles.
31.4
(104.4)
19.5
(64.9)
Line camp
To the east side of the road is a line camp/chuckwagon/horseback riding attraction.
35.7
(100.1)
22.2
(62.2)
San Juan Colorado National Forest
Pass boundary to San Juan National Forest. Red sandstone cliff parallel the road for a few miles.
41.8
(94.0)
26.0
(58.4)
Stoner, Colorado
The small community of Stoner lies principally on the west side of the road.
42.6
(93.2)
26.5
(57.9)
Ranch valley
A beautiful ranch lies to the east and south side of the road as 145 curves temporarily east.
47.5
(88.3)
29.5
(54.9)
Taylor Creek NFA
Taylor Creek National Forest Access is to the east side of the road.
54.2
(81.6)
33.7
(50.7)
Bear Creek trailhead.
Bear Creek trailhead is to the east side of the road.
57.0
(78.9)
35.4
(49.0)
Priest Gulch
Priest Gulch Campground is on the east side of the road.
59.7
(76.1)
37.1
(47.3)
Hillside NFA
Hillside Drive National Forest Access is at this point.
62.3
(73.5)
38.7
(45.7)
Roaring Fork NFA
Roaring Fork National Forest Access is at this point.
71.3
(64.5)
44.3
(40.1)
Scotch Creek NFA
Scotch Creek National Forest Access turnoff is to the east.
74.3
(61.5)
46.2
(38.2)
Rico
Enter Rico, a former mining boomtown, elevation 8827.
76.1
(59.7)
47.3
(37.1)
Atlantic Mine
The Atlantic Mine structure is right along the road on the west side.
78.0
(57.8)
48.5
(35.9)
Information station
The information station for the San Juan National Forest is on the east side of the road.
83.5
(52.3)
51.9
(32.5)
Beaver ponds
Note beaver ponds on west side of the road.
85.8
(50.0)
53.3
(31.1)
Cayton camping
Cayton campground lies on the east side of the road.
86.6
(49.2)
53.8
(30.6)
Dunton, Colorado
Turnoff to small former ghost town of Dunton is to the west. Revitalization has been undertaken. You will pass by a beautiful valley on the way.
90.4
(45.4)
56.2
(28.2)
Dolores River fades
The Dolores River, which has paralled 145 for many miles, heads to the east as 145 begins to reach Lizard Head Pass.
92.1
(43.8)
57.2
(27.2)
Lizard Head
A good view of Lizard Head can be seen to the west. See accompanying photo.
92.1
(43.8)
57.2
(27.2)
Photo
View from highway of Lizard Head
92.4
(43.5)
57.4
(27.0)
East Fork Trail NFA
East Fork Trail National Forest Access is to the east.
95.8
(40.1)
59.5
(24.9)
Lizard Head Pass/trail
Lizard Head Pass, elevation 10,222 feet, Lizard Head Trailhead, and rest area are at this point. Access to trailhead and rest area are on the west side of the road.
98.2
(37.7)
61.0
(23.4)
Trout Lake
The awesome sight of Trout Lake is to the east. See accompanying photo.
100.4
(35.4)
62.4
(22.0)
Matterhorn Campground
The Matterhorn Campground, a National Forest recreation site, lies on the east side of the road.
102.2
(33.6)
63.5
(20.9)
Ilium Valley
As 145 turns east, a beautiful view of the Ilium Valley below can be seen to the north.
103.0
(32.8)
64.0
(20.4)
Ophir Wall
As 145 heads downhill for a short distance to the east, the Ophir Wall is seen just past the curve to the north. It is a challenge for rock climbers of all abilities.
103.6
(32.2)
64.4
(20.0)
Ophir
As 145 turns north, there is a sideroad turnoff to the east to the town of Ophir, located less than a mile away. A very small post office is located on the way, and Ophir Pass can be seen past the townsite, high on the side of a mountain.
106.2
(29.6)
66.0
(18.4)
Wilson Peak/Alta Lakes
At this milepost, the imposing and beautiful Wilson Peak is seen to the left, and a turnoff to Alta Lakes and ghost townsite of Alta is to the east.
107.0
(28.8)
66.5
(17.9)
Sunshine Campground
At this point, Sunshine campground is on the west side of the road.
112.2
(23.7)
69.7
(14.7)
Mountain Village
The turnoff to Mountain Village is to the right. The nation's highest golf course is alongside the road to Mountain Village.
115.1
(20.8)
71.5
(12.9)
Telluride turnoff
Highway 145 forms a T, and turns right 3 miles to Telluride. Along the way is Telluride valley, in which are the famous 'valley cows,' a herd of Holsteins. As the Victorian mining town Telluride is approached, it is obvious why some believe it is the most beautiful setting anywhere.
115.1
(20.8)
71.5
(12.9)
Last Dollar Road
Upon leaving Telluride and heading west, the turnoff to Last Dollar Road and the Telluride airport is just before the T where 145 goes back south toward Cortez. Last Dollar Road is a relatively easy Jeep road through fantastic mountain beauty and ranchland.
115.1
(20.8)
71.5
(12.9)
Photo
4th of July Parade, Telluride, Colorado
115.1
(20.8)
71.5
(12.9)
Photo
Overview ,of Telluride, from Last Dollar Road
115.5
(20.3)
71.8
(12.6)
San Miguel River
After passing by the Last Dollar Road turnoff, and the T, continue west. 145 parallels the San Miguel River until it reached route 62.
123.9
(11.9)
77.0
(7.4)
Silver Pick NFA
Silver Pick Road National Forest Access is to the south.
128.7
(7.1)
80.0
(4.4)
Sawpit
At mile 80, go through the small settlement of Sawpit. Red cliffs rise on both sides of the road.
130.8
(5.0)
81.3
(3.1)
Fall Creek Road NFA
Fall Creek Road National Forest Access is to the left, or west at this point.
134.9
(1.0)
83.8
(0.6)
Placerville, Colorado
The settlement of Placerville lies at this point.
135.2
(0.6)
84.0
(0.4)
San Miguel County Park
The San Miguel County Park is to the right, or east side of the road as 145 heads north.
135.8
(0.0)
84.4
(0.0)
145 and 62 Junction.
At this point, route 145 forms a T with route 62. 145 continues left, or west through Norwood and toward Utah. Route 62 turns right and ends at Ridgway, 22 miles away. Along it are awe-inspiring views of the famous Sneffels Range. These can be seen about 13 miles toward Ridgway. - e





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Colorado Road Map RV Travel Guide: State #145 Colorado State Highway 145 - Cortez to Placerville (Page process time: 0.1838 seconds)
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