| State: | CO |
| Type: | SH |
| Route: | 65 |
| Alternate Name: | Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway |
| Map Custom: | yes |
| Map Notes: | SH 65 highlighted in red |
| Length Mi: | 61.377 |
| Length Ref: | [1] |
| Direction A: | South |
| Terminus A: | near Delta |
| Direction B: | North |
| Terminus B: | near Palisade |
| Counties: | Delta, Mesa |
| Previous Type: | SH |
| Previous Route: | 64 |
| Next Type: | SH |
| Next Route: | 66 |
State Highway 65 (SH 65) is a state highway in Colorado that crosses the Grand Mesa. The highway along with a road to Lands End Overlook were designated as the Grand Mesa National Scenic Byway in 1996.[2] SH 65's southern terminus is at SH 92 east of Delta, and its northern terminus is at Interstate 70 (I-70) and U.S. Route 6 (US 6) northeast of Palisade.
SH 65 runs 61.4miles, starting at a junction with SH 92 east of Delta. The highway heads north, crossing the Gunnison River, through Orchard City and Cedaredge. The highway then enters Grand Mesa National Forest climbing to the top of Grand Mesa. It then drops down the north side of Grand Mesa, ending at a junction with I-70 northeast of Palisade.
The byway runs north from Cedaredge along Highway 65, to the top of the Grand Mesa at more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m). It also includes Land's End Road to the Land's End Observatory from Highway 65. The byway continues past Island Lake, one of more than 300 trout-filled lakes in Grand Mesa National Forest. On the north side of the Mesa are the towns of Mesa, Collbran, and Powderhorn Ski Resort.[3] [4] The byway continues along De Beque Canyon, with its colorful sandstone bluffs, and eventually meets Interstate 70 in the town of De Beque.
Historic and scenic byway designations:
Scenic Overlooks include:[4]