Why is the Eisenhower Tunnel famous?
Usa, north-america
2.72 km
3,401 m
moderate
Year-round
Cruising through Colorado, you absolutely HAVE to experience the Eisenhower Tunnel! Straddling the border between Summit and Clear Creek counties, this engineering marvel punches right through the Continental Divide, about an hour west of Denver, inside the Arapaho National Forest.
Okay, so it's actually *two* tunnels: the Eisenhower Memorial Bore (completed in '73) and the Edwin C. Johnson Bore (finished in '79). Each one is about 1.7 miles long.
Why is it so special? At a whopping 11,158 feet above sea level, this is one of the highest vehicular tunnels on the planet. Sure, construction was a beast (seriously, it took years and cost lives), but now you get to shave off 9 miles compared to braving the hairpin turns of Loveland Pass on U.S. Highway 6!
The grade leading up to the tunnel is pretty steep, about 6-7%, so make sure your rig is ready for it. Oh, and heads up: HAZMAT vehicles have restrictions.
The drive only takes about 5 minutes, but experiencing this feat of engineering, and soaking in the surrounding Rocky Mountain views, is totally worth adding to your Colorado road trip itinerary. Just be prepared for company – around 10 million vehicles make the trek each year!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 2.72 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,401 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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