Santa Fe Trail - Colorado
One of America's first great trade routes, the Santa Fe Trail (1821-1880) was also critical to the westward expansion of the United States. The section of the trail located in present-day Colorado traverses one of the last strongholds of the nomadic Plains Indians and one of the first toeholds of Anglo-American pioneers who began homesteading along the Arkansas River in the 1860s.Start and Endpoint: West on US 50 from the Kansas-Colorado state border to La Junta, then southwest on US 350 to the New Mexico-Colorado state border. The Colorado section of the trail is 184 miles in length; the entire byway is 565 miles.
For further information, contact: Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway
Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway
The 75-mile byway climbs from 8,000 feet to over 11,300 feet above sea level where snowfall can exceed 360 inches per year. Travelers cross the 10,424-foot Tennessee Pass en route to the booming mining town of Leadville, the highest incorporated community in the US at 10,200 feet above sea level. Visitor activities include four-wheeling, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking on Colorado's highest mountains, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, both reachng over 14,400 feet. The national forests surrounding Leadville offer opportunities for other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, fishing, wildlife viewing, and golf.Start and Endpoint: The Byway run east from Twin Lakes on SR 82 (Independence Pass Road), then north on US 24 to Leadville, where the byway forks into two routes. The northwest fork continues on US 24 north to Minturn. The northeast fork follows SR 91 to Copper Mountain.
For further information, contact: Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway Committee
Trail of the Ancients
The Trail provides access to numerous examples of Ancestral Puebloan culture and other aspects of the Four Corners history and culture. Areas of interest along the Colorado section of the byway include Mesa Verde National Park, Anasazi Heritage Center, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (including Lowry Pueblo), and Hovenweep National Monument.Start and Endpoint: The Trail of the Ancients is a loop route in Colorado and Utah that may be started at any point along its length. From Mesa Verde National Park it runs west on US 160 toward Cortez and the junction with SR 145. In a counterclockwise direction, it then includes portions of SR 145, SR 184, US 491, county roads and spur routes, and MC Road 10 to Hovenweep National Monument at the Colorado-Utah state line. Completing the Colorado portion of the byway, from Cortez, the route runs south on US 491, then west on US 160 to Four Corners Monument. The Colorado section of the trail is 112 miles in length; the entire byway is 480 miles.
For further information, contact: Colorado Byways
Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road
Winding through the forests and mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road is one of the most spectacular drives in the United States. Various overlooks offer views of wooded valleys, mountain peaks, a stunning array of wildflowers, and arctic climatic conditions. At 10,758-foot Milner Pass, the byway meets the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which ranges 3,100 miles from the Canada-Montana border to the Mexico-New Mexico border. The national park includes more than 350 miles of trails for hikers and backpackers of all skill levels. The 48-mile route was designated an "All-American Road" in 1996.Start and Endpoint: Byway generally follows US 34 from Estes Park to Grand Lake, Colorado.
For further information, contact: Rokcy Mountain National Park
