Wyoming Highway 70 (WYO 70) is a 57.66-mile-long (92.79 km) state highway in southern Wyoming. The route travels from an intersection with WYO 789 in Baggs eastward to WYO 230 in Riverside. WYO 70 over Battle Pass is closed during winter[2] (November to April). The section of the route within Medicine Bow National Forest is designated the Battle Pass Scenic Byway.[3]
Wyoming Highway 70 begins in Baggs at Wyoming Highway 789 and heads east through southern Carbon County near the Colorado state line. Highway 70 travels through the communities of Dixon and Savery before dipping across the state line, where a short section passes through Slater, Colorado (between mileposts 15.34 and 16.24). This short section through Moffat County, Colorado is not part of the Colorado State Highway System, and is maintained by the Wyoming Department of Transportation.[4] At 16.7 miles, Wyoming 70 intersects with former Colorado State Highway 129, which used to connect US 40 with Wyoming 70. It is now Moffat CR 1. Thereafter the highway travels through very scenic Medicine Bow National Forest (between mileposts 21.25 and 51.10) and passes over Battle Pass at an elevation of 9,955 feet (3,034 m). After leaving the national forest, Highway 70 passes through Encampment and then on to Riverside, where it ends at its junction with WYO 230.
During the spring of 2011, a landslide occurred on WYO 70 near milepost 31, about halfway between Baggs and Encampment. The slide destroyed a 1,000-foot length of the highway, and the road was closed to through traffic for several weeks. As a result, a temporary one-lane detour was constructed.[5] Reconstruction of the road where the slide occurred was ruled out after geologic investigations found the slide is likely to continue moving in the future. Work to realign WYO 70 around to the north of the slide area is being done. WYDOT anticipates the realignment project would require two construction seasons, during which time the existing detour would be maintained.[5]
Highway 70 near Dixon, Wyoming.
On November 15, 2012, The Wyoming Highway Commission designated Wyoming State Highway 70 as the Battle Pass Scenic Byway. A local support group, Battle Pass Scenic Byway Alliance, Inc. is a non-profit organization that is coordinating the interpretive signage along this unique roadway across the Continental Divide.
Historyedit
Between the 1940s and 1960s, Wyoming Highway 70 connected with former Colorado State Highway 129, which used to connect US 40 with Wyoming 70. During the time Highway 129 existed, WY 70 didn't exist as it does now. Only the western part from SH 129 to Baggs was designated as Highway 70.[6] Former Colorado State Highway 129 is now Routt County Route 129.
Recreationedit
The scenic by-way crosses the Continental Divide
The Continental Divide Trail traverses Battle Pass. Resupply is available in the nearby Town of Encampment to the east. Local camping is available just north of the highway. In 2010 a small trailer was parked just off the highway on private property for the use of thru-hikers.[7][unreliable source?]
WYO 70 - Colorado State Line to Colorado State Line
WYO 70 - Colorado State Line to WYO 230
Carbon County, WY webpage
Carbon County, WY - Battle Highway
Wyoming Highway 70 photos
Wyoming Highway 70
November 01, 2023
wyoming, highway, mile, long, state, highway, southern, wyoming, route, travels, from, intersection, with, baggs, eastward, riverside, over, battle, pass, closed, during, winter, november, april, section, route, within, medicine, national, forest, designated, . Wyoming Highway 70 WYO 70 is a 57 66 mile long 92 79 km state highway in southern Wyoming The route travels from an intersection with WYO 789 in Baggs eastward to WYO 230 in Riverside WYO 70 over Battle Pass is closed during winter 2 November to April The section of the route within Medicine Bow National Forest is designated the Battle Pass Scenic Byway 3 Wyoming Highway 70Battle Pass Scenic BywayWYO 70 highlighted in redRoute informationMaintained by WYDOTLength57 66 mi 1 92 79 km Restrictionsclosed in winter over Battle Pass in the Sierra Madre 2 Major junctionsWest endWYO 789 in BaggsEast endWYO 230 in RiversideLocationCountryUnited StatesStateWyomingCountiesCarbon Moffat CO Highway systemWyoming State Highway SystemInterstate US State WYO 59 WYO 71 Contents 1 Route description 2 History 3 Recreation 4 Major intersections 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksRoute description editWyoming Highway 70 begins in Baggs at Wyoming Highway 789 and heads east through southern Carbon County near the Colorado state line Highway 70 travels through the communities of Dixon and Savery before dipping across the state line where a short section passes through Slater Colorado between mileposts 15 34 and 16 24 This short section through Moffat County Colorado is not part of the Colorado State Highway System and is maintained by the Wyoming Department of Transportation 4 At 16 7 miles Wyoming 70 intersects with former Colorado State Highway 129 which used to connect US 40 with Wyoming 70 It is now Moffat CR 1 Thereafter the highway travels through very scenic Medicine Bow National Forest between mileposts 21 25 and 51 10 and passes over Battle Pass at an elevation of 9 955 feet 3 034 m After leaving the national forest Highway 70 passes through Encampment and then on to Riverside where it ends at its junction with WYO 230 During the spring of 2011 a landslide occurred on WYO 70 near milepost 31 about halfway between Baggs and Encampment The slide destroyed a 1 000 foot length of the highway and the road was closed to through traffic for several weeks As a result a temporary one lane detour was constructed 5 Reconstruction of the road where the slide occurred was ruled out after geologic investigations found the slide is likely to continue moving in the future Work to realign WYO 70 around to the north of the slide area is being done WYDOT anticipates the realignment project would require two construction seasons during which time the existing detour would be maintained 5 nbsp Highway 70 near Dixon Wyoming On November 15 2012 The Wyoming Highway Commission designated Wyoming State Highway 70 as the Battle Pass Scenic Byway A local support group Battle Pass Scenic Byway Alliance Inc is a non profit organization that is coordinating the interpretive signage along this unique roadway across the Continental Divide History editBetween the 1940s and 1960s Wyoming Highway 70 connected with former Colorado State Highway 129 which used to connect US 40 with Wyoming 70 During the time Highway 129 existed WY 70 didn t exist as it does now Only the western part from SH 129 to Baggs was designated as Highway 70 6 Former Colorado State Highway 129 is now Routt County Route 129 Recreation edit nbsp The scenic by way crosses the Continental DivideThe Continental Divide Trail traverses Battle Pass Resupply is available in the nearby Town of Encampment to the east Local camping is available just north of the highway In 2010 a small trailer was parked just off the highway on private property for the use of thru hikers 7 unreliable source Major intersections editStateCountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotesWyomingCarbonBaggs0 000 00 nbsp WYO 789Western terminusColoradoMoffatSlater15 825 4 nbsp CR 1WyomingCarbon 16 726 9 nbsp CR 29Former SH 129Riverside57 6692 79 nbsp WYO 230Eastern terminus1 000 mi 1 609 km 1 000 km 0 621 miSee also edit nbsp U S Roads portalReferences edit Wyoming State Route Log 1 through 99 AARoads a b Official State Highway Map of Wyoming Map Wyoming Department of Transportation 2014 Section of WYO 70 designated scenic byway Wyoming Department of Transportation November 19 2012 Retrieved March 1 2013 Colorado Highways Routes 60 to 79 Wyoming Highway 70 a b WYDOT Wyoming Highway 70 slide amp realignment Colorado Routes 120 139 www mesalek com lt 1 http www yogisbooks com continental divide trail yogis continental divide trail handbook gt External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wyoming Highway 70 KML file edit help Template Attached KML Wyoming Highway 70KML is from Wikidata Wyoming Routes 000 099 WYO 70 WYO 789 to Colorado State Line WYO 70 Colorado State Line to Colorado State Line WYO 70 Colorado State Line to WYO 230 Carbon County WY webpage Carbon County WY Battle Highway Wyoming Highway 70 photos Wyoming Highway 70 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wyoming Highway 70 amp oldid 1168768075, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
