| The first exit in Douglas County is Exit 167, Greenland Road. Follow Greenland Road west to Spruce Mountain Road, which is the alignment of Douglas County Route 53 (which continues from the north end of Colorado 105 all the way to Larkspur). At Colorado 18, Spruce Mountain Road rejoins Interstate 25 and U.S. 85-87. The county road is the old alignment of U.S. 85-87 and remains close to the railroad. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| This scenic view is found along northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 after the El Paso-Douglas County Line and prior to the Greenland Road Interchange (Exit 167). Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 approaches Exit 167, Greenland Road, one-half mile. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| The next offramp serves a rest area, which is situated in the hills between Monument (in El Paso County) and Larkspur in Douglas County. This rest area provides full motorist restroom facilities. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 reaches Exit 171, Rest Area. The next exit is Exit 172, Junction Former Colorado 18 and Douglas County Route 56/Upper Lake Gulch Road. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 approaches Exit 172, Douglas County Route 56/Upper Lake Gulch Road/Larkspur, one mile. County Route 56 leads east through Upper Lake Gulch, then changes to Douglas County Route 51 en route to Castlewood Canyon State Park, near a junction with Colorado 83. To the west, Upper Lake Gulch Road used to be part of Colorado 18 until reaching Spruce Mountain Road, but the state road was turned back to local control around 2000. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Use Upper Lake Gulch Road west to Larkspur; to rejoin Interstate 25, follow Spruce Mountain Road northbound. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 reaches Exit 172, Douglas County Route 56/Upper Lake Gulch Road/Larkspur, next right. There is no exit from northbound Interstate 25 to southbound Spruce Mountain Road, so use Upper Lake Gulch Road to make that connection. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| The next exit along northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 is Exit 174, Tomah Road. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 reaches Exit 174, Tomah Road. Use Tomah Road west to the Bear Dance Golf Course. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Since descending gradually from Monument Hill in El Paso County, the freeway has lost over 1,000 feet in elevation. The town of Castle Rock, which is situated at 6,202 feet above sea level, is almost 1,000 higher in elevation than Denver (elevation 5,280 feet). This gradual descent affords some good views of the Denver area as Interstate 25 continues north. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| The next three exits along northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 serve the town of Castle Rock. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 approaches Exit 181, Wilcox Street and Plum Creek Parkway, 0.75 mile. This is the main route into the town of Castle Rock, which is generally considered to be separated from the southern fringe of the Denver metropolitan area by significant open space and undeveloped land. This land separates Castle Rock from the city of Centennial, which is the next major development along Interstate 25/U.S. 87 north. Castle Rock is the seat of Douglas County. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| To reach Colorado 86/Franktown Road east, use Exit 181/Wilcox Street and Plum Creek Parkway east. Colorado 86 heads east from Wilcox Street in Castle Rock to meet Colorado 83 east of town, then continues east to Interstate 70/U.S. 40-287 just northwest of Limon. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Formerly, this exit led to a business loop for Interstate 25 into Castle Rock, but the state relinquished the route in the mid-1990s. As a result, Colorado 86 reaches its western terminus before connecting to the freeway, and the business route is not signed through the town. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| The next exit along northbound is Wilcox Street (the north end of the business loop) and Wolfensberger Road, which leads west to West Plum Creek and Perry Park Road (Douglas County Route 105). Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 at Exit 182, Wilcox Street and Wolfensberger Road in Castle Rock. Previously, there was an Exit 183 that carried U.S. 85 off Interstate 25, but it was eliminated; now U.S. 85 uses Meadows Parkway to exit the freeway at Exit 184. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| If Interstate 25 is expanded to accommodate more lanes, this railroad bridge would have to be replaced or substantially reconfigured. Its art deco styling makes it a unique bridge for the region. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 approaches Exit 184, Junction U.S. 85 North/Meadows Parkway/Founders Parkway, 0.75 mile. Founders Parkway leads southeast from this interchange, connecting to Colorado 86/Franktown Road. Meadows Parkway leads west from this interchange, briefly carrying U.S. 85 until it splits off to the northwest along Liggett Road. Exit 184 is the last Castle Rock interchange. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| The next exit is the split with U.S. 85 (Exit 184). U.S. 87, meanwhile, continues north along with Interstate 25 toward Denver. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| U.S. 85 splits from northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 here at Exit 184. While the freeway continues straight toward Denver, U.S. 85 angles northwest toward Littleton. U.S. 85 and Interstate 25/U.S. 87 rejoin just south of downtown Denver at Exit 207B. The missing shield space next to the U.S. 85 north shield is not for U.S. 87; it is likely for Colorado 86, which is planned for a future extension to this point rather than its current terminus where Franktown Road enters downtown Castle Rock. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Interstate 25/U.S. 87 North
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| The next exit along northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 is Exit 187, Happy Canyon Road, 0.75 mile. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 reaches Exit 187, Happy Canyon Road. Happy Canyon Road acts as a cutoff between Interstate 25 and U.S. 85. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along Interstate 25/U.S. 87 north is Exit 188, Castle Pines Parkway. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 reaches Exit 188, Castle Pines Parkway. Use Castle Pines Parkway west into The Ridge at Castle Pines North and The Sanctuary. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| The next exit along northbound is Exit 190, Oak Lane/Clydesdale Road. These two roads travel west toward Surrey Ridge. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| An oddity along northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 is Exit 191/Schweiger Road (North Surrey Road). Why they couldn't just put the name Schweiger Road on the sign is not clear. Note the sharp right turn required to exit here. Schweiger Road does not really connect to the rest of the road system in the area. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| There are no services or other amenities available at Exit 191. This is the last section of rural Interstate 25 prior to entering metropolitan Denver. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 changes into a more suburban feel after passing by the no-name exit of Exit 191. The next exit is Exit 193, Douglas County Route 36/Lincoln Avenue, 0.75 mile. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| The vast urbanscape of Denver beckons in the valley ahead. The first metropolitan area exit is Exit 193, Lincoln Avenue, followed by Junction Colorado 470/E-470. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 reaches Exit 193, Douglas County Route 36/Lincoln Avenue. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 approaches Exit 194, Junction Colorado 470 and E-470, one mile. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 for the next three exits: Exit 194, Junction Colorado 470/E-470; Exit 195, County Line Road; and Exit 196, Dry Creek Road. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| For a fee, E-470 north provides a traffic-free route around metropolitan Denver, avoiding the T-Rex construction project and the Mousetrap (Junction Interstate 70). It is also the fastest route from here to the airport. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 reaches Exit 194, Junction Colorado 470 west to Golden and Interstate 70 west and Junction E-470 north to Interstate 70 east. The control cities used on this sign are the same as the control cities for Interstate 70. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Close-up of the signage for Colorado 470 and E-470 along northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87. Note the details of both shields as well as the airport symbol used to denote that E-470 north leads to Denver International Airport. The County Line Road sign is button copy. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| On the transition ramp from northbound Interstate 25 to Junction Colorado 470 and E-470 is this sign, indicating that the left lane is for Colorado 470 and the right lane is for E-470. Photo taken 11/10/03.
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| At the top of the transition ramp from northbound Interstate 25 to Colorado 470 west and E-470 north is this shield assembly, which points the way to each route. Note the unusual banner used to denote E-470 as a tollway. Photo taken 11/10/03.
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| This is the view of the top of the transition ramp from northbound Interstate 25 to westbound Colorado 470. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 for the next three exits: Exit 195, County Line Road; Exit 196, Dry Creek Road; and Exit 197, Junction Colorado 88 East/Arapahoe Road. Also note the T-Rex construction information signage. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| View of the symmetrical stack interchange between northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 and Colorado 470/E-470. The exit beneath the stack interchange is Exit 195, County Line Road. After this interchange, Interstate 25/U.S. 87 leaves Douglas County and enter Arapahoe County. Photo taken 11/11/03.
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| Other Interstate 25/U.S. 87 Pictures
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| Westbound Lincoln Avenue meets Interstate 25 at Exit 193. Photo taken 08/28/05.
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Page Updated June 20, 2005.
