Colorado State Highway 194 (SH 194) is a state highway in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Colorado. The highway runs approximately 21.6 miles (34.8 km) in a north–south direction, connecting U.S. Route 50 (US 50) east of Las Animas with State Highway 109 (SH 109) south of La Junta.
Route Description
SH 194 begins at a junction with US 50 in rural Bent County, approximately 8 miles (13 km) east of the city of Las Animas. From its southern terminus, the highway travels due north across the High Plains, traversing agricultural land and crossing the Arkansas River via a bridge. It continues north into Otero County, passing east of the town of Cheraw. The route terminates at an intersection with SH 109, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) south of La Junta.
The highway is a two-lane paved road for its entire length. It primarily serves local agricultural traffic and provides a shortcut between the US 50 corridor and the SH 109 corridor, bypassing the larger population centers of Las Animas and La Junta.
History
SH 194 was established in 1939. The original routing was similar to the current alignment, connecting US 50 to what was then designated as SH 266 (later renumbered to SH 109). The route has remained largely unchanged since its designation, with the primary improvements being the paving of the roadway (completed in the 1950s) and the replacement of the Arkansas River bridge.
Major Intersections
| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bent | | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 50 – Las Animas, Lamar | Southern terminus |
| Otero | | 21.600 | 34.762 | SH 109 – La Junta, Cheraw | Northern terminus |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
