![What Driving Up The Big Thompson Canyon Looked Like in 1937](http://townsquare.media/site/48/files/2020/08/THOMPSON-CANYON-1937.jpg?w=980&q=75)
What Driving Up The Big Thompson Canyon Looked Like in 1937
U.S. 34 up the Big Thompson Canyon is a breathtaking drive from Loveland to Estes Park.
It has been frequented by tourists ever sine being completed in 1937.
Loveland Reporter-Herald archives say U.S. 34 replaced the old Riley Road, which was a primitive single-lane roadway requiring four-wheel drive originally built in 1903-1904.
The State of Colorado decided to replace Riley Road with U.S. 34 in 1931. Construction came in small sections over the next few years so traffic could still pass through the canyon.
Here's what U.S. 34 looked like when it was fully completed in 1937, a photo my wife's family dug up from their own personal collection:
Take a drive up what U.S. 34 and the Big Thompson Canyon look like today with this 2019 video by YouTuber Nick Sangetta:
![99.9 The Point logo](https://townsquare.media/site/50/files/2022/01/attachment-512.jpg?w=100)
How Northern Colorado Cities Got Their Names
More From 99.9 The Point
![Colorado Sweets Shop Needs Your Vote to Be Named One of the Nation’s 10 Best](http://townsquare.media/site/49/files/2024/06/attachment-Colorado-Candy-Shop.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Swimming in Cash: Estes Park’s 2023 Duck Race Could Score You Ten Grand](http://townsquare.media/site/51/files/2023/02/attachment-Estes-Park-Colorado-Duck-Race.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![WATCH: Horse and Elk Make Unlikely Friends at Estes Park](http://townsquare.media/site/147/files/2023/01/attachment-Elk-Horse-Estes-Park-CO-ViralHog.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Victims Of Fatal Drake Rollover Identified](http://townsquare.media/site/48/files/2021/02/thumbnail_IMG_2802.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Widening of U.S. 34 In Loveland Delayed](http://townsquare.media/site/48/files/2015/03/RS5624_118322709-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![I-25, U.S. 34 To Close For Overnight Bridge Work This Week](http://townsquare.media/site/49/files/2020/05/Hwy-34-at-I-25.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bridge in Drake Colorado Dedicated to Long-Time CDOH Worker](http://townsquare.media/site/48/files/2018/06/Jensenbridge.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Power Outage Planned in Big Thompson Canyon This Week](http://townsquare.media/site/48/files/2018/01/AA_NarrowsSide_DougPensinger-GettyImages.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Merry Christmas From CDOT: Highway 34 to Open For Holidays](http://townsquare.media/site/50/files/2017/12/34.png?w=980&q=75)