Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2008 - (Page 25) 17. San Juan Skyway* The Experience: As it weaves through valleys and over passes, this byway reveals superb vantage points of the colorful San Juan Mountains. Stop atop Lizard Head Pass and take in its namesake — a bizarre 400-foot-tall volcanic thumb. The History: This byway passes through the National Historic Landmark Districts of Silverton, Telluride and Ouray. Historic downtown Durango is well preserved, and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is one of the finest in the nation. Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? No Distance: 236 miles • Allow 7 hours ©Brian Gadbury/CTO The History: Since it was located en route to the mining towns, Julesburg is naturally rich with history. Move from historic marker to historic marker to learn about the Transcontinental Railroad, the Pony Express and Fort Sedgwick. Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? No Distance: 19 miles • Allow 1 hour ©Sally Pearce/NSBO (Southwest) See image on page 22 20. South Platte River Trail (Northeast) The Experience: Take a sunrise or sunset spin on this, the shortest of Colorado’s byways. The crisp light often shows the vibrancy of the prairie and the South Platte River. 23. Trail Ridge Road* (Front Range/Northwest) The Experience: Cross the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park on this, the highest paved through-road in North America. Visitors can see elk graze on alpine slopes with the Rockies visible in all directions. The History: This entire byway is on the National Register of Historic Places. You can pay a visit to the elegant Stanley Hotel where The Shining was set in Estes Park. On the other side of the divide, take the 3.5-mile hike to the ghost town of Lulu City. Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? Yes (Trail Ridge Road) Distance: 48 miles • Allow 2 hours 18. Santa Fe Trail* (Southeast) See image above left The Experience: By driving east to west, you’ll see a magnificent progression of landscapes — from the fertile fields of the Arkansas River basin to the brittle prairie of the Comanche National Grassland to the towering Spanish Peaks. The History: Between a detour to the settlement of Boggsville, a visit to Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site and the Santa Fe Trail Museum in Trinidad, you’ll rekindle the storied past of this legendary route west. ©1999 Mike Conlin/NSBO 21. Top of the Rockies* (South Central) The Experience: Scenery reaches new heights on this byway — Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive are the tallest and second tallest peaks in the state. Follow the beginnings of the Arkansas River, and be sure to stop by one of the many lakes in the area. The History: Leadville’s silver boom helped fuel the dynasty of the Guggenheims and paved the way for others to make a fortune. Stop by the Tabor Opera House, the Matchless Mine and the Dexter Cabin for stories of colorful characters and insights into Colorado’s mining boom days. Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? No Distance: 82 miles • Allow 2 hours 24. Unaweep-Tabeguache ©Marcus Krantz/NSBO (Southwest) The Experience: This scenic highway weaves its way through some of the wildest lands in America. The Dolores River Canyon is an obvious highlight, with its smooth sandstone walls and roaring river. The History: In the late 19th and early 20th century, copper and uranium mining reigned here. A poignant sign of this is the Hanging Flume, a dilapidated wooden trestle suspended over the canyon that delivered water to mining operations. Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? No Distance: 133 miles • Allow 3 hours Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? No Distance: 188 miles • Allow 4 hours 19. Silver Thread (South Central/Southwest) The Experience: This “road less traveled by” skims the top of two high mountain passes. Along the way, notable stops include the ever-moving landslide called the Slumgullion Earth Flow, and graceful North Clear Creek Falls, which plunges into a chocolate-colored box canyon. The History: Stroll through the quaint Victorian downtown of Lake City, a National Historic District. In Creede, partake in a little Mining 101 at the Creede Underground Mining Museum. The town also has a well-established repertory theater. Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? No Distance: 117 miles • Allow 3 hours ©Sally Pearce/NSBO 22. Trail of the Ancients* ©Sally Pearce/NSBO (Southwest) See image above left 25. West Elk Loop (Southwest/Northwest) The Experience: For many stretches, the West Elk Loop is the only road for miles. Untrammeled wilderness surrounds it, with aspen groves, craggy peaks and tantalizing glimpses into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The History: Visit the charming Victorian village of Redstone and the famous quarry at Marble. Pass through the National Historic District of Crested Butte, where you can visit the Crested Butte Mining Heritage Museum and learn about the town’s Croatian heritage. Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? Yes (Kebler Pass) Distance: 205 miles • Allow 7 hours 1-800-Colorado | www.colorado.com The Experience: In a landscape painted red and orange by sandstone, you’ll find mesas, buttes and hills covered in the dark green of piñon juniper pine. The deep blue San Juan Mountains cut the horizon in the distance. The History: This is the ideal itinerary for seeing the most incredible Ancestral Puebloan sites in the world at the Canyons of the Ancients and Hovenweep National Monuments, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, the Anasazi Heritage Center and Mesa Verde National Park — which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Four-wheel drive required? No Portions closed in winter? No Distance: 116 miles • Allow 3 hours 25 http://www.colorado.com
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