If you are a first time home
buyer and you are looking for some of the nicest neighborhoods, look into Westminster neighborhoods in Colorado. You will find that Colorado homes are the nicest places to live in the country. You will notice that Westminster homes are great to live in as well.
U.S. Highway 6 - Loveland Pass Road
This page documents the travels of U.S. 6 over Loveland Pass, with one of our photos appearing in the January 2005 issue of Overdrive magazine (page 30, "Killer Hills"). Loveland Pass is the only alternative for some truckers who are prohibited from using Eisenhower Tunnel on Interstate 70 for any number of reasons (including nature of the load being hauled and weather).
U.S. 6 exits off Interstate 70 at Exit 216. One of the most freeway-accessible ski resorts, Loveland Ski Area, is located adjacent to the freeway interchange. This picture shows U.S. 6 west as it exits the freeway and passes underneath it. There is a ramp leading to eastbound Interstate 70/U.S. 6. Photo taken 11/10/03.
The ski runs of Loveland Ski Area are visible in the distance. Already at an elevation over 10,000 feet, U.S. 6 passes by this left turn back to Interstate 70 and immediately begins to ascend Loveland Pass. Photo taken 11/10/03.
In the mountains, November means winter weather. As U.S. 6 climbs higher, the snowpack and icy conditions increase, and less and less pavement is visible beneath the snow pack. Since hazardous materials trucks are required to use U.S. 6 over the pass rather than take Interstate 70 and the Eisenhower Tunnel, imagine this climb in a large truck. Oftentimes, trucks climbing U.S. 6 can result in significant delays. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Now at the top if Loveland Pass, U.S. 6 crests briefly at 11,990 feet, then prepares to descend slowly along North Fork Snake River toward Dillon and Silverthorne. This pass marks the boundary between Clear Creek County and Summit County. Photo taken 11/10/03.
A pullout located at the top of the summit allows for a view that would be more impressive on a clear day. This point marks the crossing of U.S. 6 over the Continental Divide: precipitation (snow and rain) that lands here may fall east into the Atlantic Ocean watershed via the Clear Creek, South Platte River, Missouri River, and Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico or west into the Pacific Ocean watershed via the Snake River, Blue River, and Colorado River. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Another view of the Continental Divide sign. There are a couple of hiking trails located in this vicinity that lead to even higher locations. In addition, snow is most abundant here in winter months; snow plows and other snow removal equipment are frequently in action here. Since the east slope of the pass is very steep, an increased avalanche danger is present along the road. The Colorado Department of Transportation uses cannons to bring snow down in a controlled manner, which helps to avoid avalanche dangers. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Continuing west down the slope from Loveland Pass, U.S. 6 passes by the entrance to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, then slowly loses elevation. The snowpack that was so prevalent at the top of the pass is no longer present, and the snow begins to change to icy rain. In this picture, however, the snow is still falling, even though it is melting on the pavement. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Brief snow showers a bit closer to Dillon were common on this day. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Entering Dillon, this is the first U.S. 6 shield since leaving Interstate 70 near Loveland Ski Area. U.S. 6 continues west through Dillon until it reaches Interstate 70 and Colorado 9. Interstate 70, U.S. 6, and Colorado 9 head southwest toward Frisco; Interstate 70/U.S. 6 head west toward Vail, and Colorado 9 heads south toward Fairplay. Photo taken 11/10/03.
U.S. 6/Loveland Pass Road West
View of snowy U.S. 6 as seen from the summit of Loveland Pass looking east. On a clear day, this mountainous pass would provide a stunning view of the mountains and foothills. Photo taken 11/10/03.
