Eight Things that Solidify Colorado’s ‘High’ Status

The state of Colorado is known for a number of things, including being home to numerous landmarks, both natural and manmade, that carry distinctions of being the 'highest' of their respective kinds.

Read More: Did You Know that Colorado’s Highest City Once Had Suburbs? |

Keep scrolling to learn about eight of the things that have earned Colorado the reputation of being the 'highest.'

Colorado is the Only State Always Above 1,000 Meters

1,000 meters is roughly the equivalent of 3,280 feet, and Colorado is the only state in the nation that has an elevation throughout its entire area that doesn't dip below this figure.

Colorado is Home to the Most 14ers

Mountains that exceed 14,000 feet in elevation are commonly known as 14ers, and Colorado is home to a whopping 58 of them. For comparison, Alaska has the second-most 14ers in the nation at 22, followed by California's 12 and a single 14,000-foot mountain in Washington State.

Colorado's Lowest Point is Still the Highest

The lowest point in Colorado, 3,317 feet, is found in Yuma County near the Kansas border and is the highest low point of any state in the nation.

Colorado is Home to the Highest Point in the Rocky Mountains

The tallest mountain in Colorado, Mount Elbert, also carries the distinction of being the highest point in all of the Rocky Mountains.

Colorado Has the Highest Paved Road

The highest paved road in Colorado, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, is also the highest paved road in North America.

Colorado Has the Highest Vehicular Tunnel on Earth

The Eisenhower Tunnel is not just the highest vehicular tunnel in the state, the country, and the continent of North America, it's also one of the highest in the world.

Colorado Has the Highest Suspension Bridge

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While it's no longer the highest in the world, the Royal Gorge Bridge near Cañon City is still the highest in North America.

Colorado Has the Highest Botanical Gardens

Finally, at over 8,200 feet, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail are the highest botanical gardens in North America.