An LED (10, 60, 70) with enhanced current spreading structures, comprising: an LED core comprising: an epitaxially grown p-type layer; an epitaxially grown n-type layer; and an epitaxially grown active layer between said p-type and n-type layers; a first current spreader layer adjacent to said LED core; a second current spreader layer (18, 61, 71) on said LED core opposite said first current spreader layer; at least one groove etched through said second current spreader layer and said LED core, to said first current spreader layer; a first contact (21, 62, 72) having at least one elongated first conductive finger (22, 63, 76) branching out therefrom on said first current spreader layer within said groove such that current flows from said first contact, into said at least one first conductive finger, across said first current spreader layer, and into said LED core; and a second contact (19, 64, 73) having at least two elongated second conductive fingers (20a, 20b, 65a, 65b, 75) branching out therefrom on said second current spreader layer such that current flows from said second contact, into said at least two second conductive fingers, across said second current spreader layer, and into said LED core, wherein said second contact and said at least two second conductive fingers extend adjacent to three edges of said second current spreader layer, forming a U-shaped conductive path, said first contact and said at least one first conductive finger forming an elongated path within said U-shaped path, wherein said at least one first conductive finger and said at least two second conductive fingers are parallel for at least a portion of their lengths, and wherein said groove is between two of said at least two second conductive fingers. an LED core comprising: an epitaxially grown p-type layer; an epitaxially grown n-type layer; and an epitaxially grown active layer between said p-type and n-type layers; an epitaxially grown p-type layer; an epitaxially grown n-type layer; and an epitaxially grown active layer between said p-type and n-type layers; a first current spreader layer adjacent to said LED core; a second current spreader layer (18, 61, 71) on said LED core opposite said first current spreader layer; at least one groove etched through said second current spreader layer and said LED core, to said first current spreader layer; a first contact (21, 62, 72) having at least one elongated first conductive finger (22, 63, 76) branching out therefrom on said first current spreader layer within said groove such that current flows from said first contact, into said at least one first conductive finger, across said first current spreader layer, and into said LED core; and a second contact (19, 64, 73) having at least two elongated second conductive fingers (20a, 20b, 65a, 65b, 75) branching out therefrom on said second current spreader layer such that current flows from said second contact, into said at least two second conductive fingers, across said second current spreader layer, and into said LED core, wherein said second contact and said at least two second conductive fingers extend adjacent to three edges of said second current spreader layer, forming a U-shaped conductive path, said first contact and said at least one first conductive finger forming an elongated path within said U-shaped path, wherein said at least one first conductive finger and said at least two second conductive fingers are parallel for at least a portion of their lengths, and wherein said groove is between two of said at least two second conductive fingers.