sounds like you know the area. My mother grew up in Oak Creek, which is on the way to Steamboat via Rt 131 (exit 157) from I-70...the route which is mentioned for the detour. Mom sure remembers the winters up in Oak Creek. Travel was rare...and it was long before I-70! :)
Yes. I was born in Denver over 80 years ago. When I was growing up, there were no interstates through Colorado. Through Denver to the mountains we only had US-6 and US-40, which is Colfax Ave. Going south to the Springs, you’d take the Old Denver Highway, which was originally U.S. Route 87. That was replaced by I-25.
I have fond memories of riding these beautiful roads in the rumble seat of dad’s 1939 Ford Coupe, before they were paved over.