You probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the Eisenhower Tunnel is the highest vehicular tunnel in the United States. Located about 60 miles west of Denver, the Eisenhower Tunnel travels 1.7 miles underground at an elevation of 11,158 feet.
Driving through it can be a bit of a nuisance, but it would be impossible to claim that this tunnel isn’t impressive, especially when you know it’s history. YouTube channel IT’S HISTORY took a look at the iconic tunnel.
“The Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel, about 60 miles west of Denver on Interstate 70, sits at 11,013 feet at the East Portal and 11,158 feet at the West Portal. The Tunnel traverses through the Continental Divide at an average elevation of 11,112 feet. When initially opened in the 1970s, the tunnel was not only the highest vehicular tunnel in the U.S., but it was also the highest in the world at that time. The facility lies entirely within the Arapaho National Forest and is divided by two counties, Clear Creek County at the East Portal and Summit county at the West Portal. The Tunnel and the Continental Divide also separate two watersheds, the Clear Creek Watershed on the east and the Straight Creek Watershed on the west.“