Colorado State Highway 119

State Highway 119
Map of north central Colorado with SH 119 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by CDOT
Length:	63.7 mi (102.5 km)
Major junctions
South end:	US 6 in Clear Creek Canyon west of Golden
	SH 72 in Nederland US 36 / SH 7 in Boulder SH 52 in Niwot US 287 in Longmont
North end:	I-25 / US 87 exit 240, east of Longmont
Location
Counties:	Jefferson, Gilpin, Boulder, Weld
Highway system
Colorado State Highways Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← SH 116 SH 120 →

State Highway 119 (SH 119) is a 63.7 mi (102.5 km) long state highway in north central Colorado. It extends in a southwest to northeast direction, from a junction with U.S. Highway 6 in Clear Creek Canyon between Golden and Idaho Springs to a junction with I-25 east of Longmont. The southwest portion of the road is a scenic mountain drive providing dramatic vistas of the Front Range, while the northeast portion is a busy interurban thoroughfare. The city of Boulder separates these two vastly different sections of SH 119.

Highway 119 begins at a signalized T intersection with U.S. Highway 6 in Clear Creek Canyon between Golden and Idaho Springs. It then heads north, alongside North Clear Creek, to the gambling town of Blackhawk; this section of the road carries heavy traffic to the casinos of Blackhawk and Central City and experiences many accidents.

It continues north from Blackhawk as the Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway, skirting the western edge of Golden Gate Canyon State Park where it intersects State Highway 46. It continues north through the village of Mid Gilpin to Rollinsville, where it crosses over South Boulder Creek and the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad, on its way from Denver to the Moffat Tunnel. East Portal Road in Rollinsville provides access to the east portal of the railroad tunnel, and to the Moffat Road historic railroad grade across Rollins Pass. SH 119 continues northward, intersecting State Highway 72 with which it will be concurrent to Nederland. It provides access to the Eldora Mountain Resort ski area, about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Nederland. In Nederland, SH 119 and SH 72 diverge at a roundabout intersection where SH 72 takes the Peak to Peak Highway designation with it to the north, and Route 119 turns to the east. Leaving Nederland, SH 119 passes along the northern shore of Barker Meadow Reservoir and enters the scenic Boulder Canyon, alongside Boulder Creek. In the canyon, the road experiences grades of up to 10%, which can be dangerous for heavy trucks heading downhill, as it does not have a runaway truck ramp. The walls of the canyon are popular for rock climbing, and the scenic Boulder Falls is an easy walk from the highway.