Colorado’s Lowest Point is Still the Highest in the Nation

Colorado carries many distinctions, including being home to the highest botanical gardens in Vail’s Betty Ford Gardens, the highest paved road in the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, and the highest peak in the contiguous United States with Mount Elbert.

Get our free mobile app

While Alaska is technically home to the highest peak in the nation, on average, Colorado is known as the highest state in the country when it comes to elevation, and while this fact is impressive on its own, the Centennial State’s lowest point is also a record holder when it comes to how high it is above sea level.

What is the Highest Point in Colorado?

Just outside of Leadville, Colorado, you will find numerous tall, rugged mountains, and the highest of these peaks is Mount Elbert. While Colorado is home to numerous mountains that reach over 14,000 feet in elevation, a distinction that earns them the commonly used phrase ‘14ers,’ Lake County is home to the highest, including Mount Elbert, which sits at an estimated 14,440 feet above sea level.

What is the Lowest Point in Colorado?

In the state of Colorado, there are typically three regions that locals refer to when it comes to dividing up the state: the Western Slope, the Rocky Mountains, and the Eastern Plains. It’s the latter where we find the lowest point in the state.

Read More: The Country’s Highest Incorporated Municipality is in Colorado

At just 3,315 feet above sea level, the lowest part of Colorado is located near the Arikaree River in what’s called the Denver-Julesberg Basin. However, despite being the lowest point in Colorado, this area is still higher in elevation than any of the other 49 states’ lowest points, once again solidifying Colorado’s distinction of being the highest state in the nation.