List of federal scenic byways in Colorado

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Federal scenic byways in Colorado
MUTCD M10-1.svg National Forest Scenic Byway.svg BLM Backcountry Byway.svg
Federal scenic byway route signs
Colorado ref 2001.jpg
Highway names
Interstates Interstate nn (I-nn)
US Highways U.S. Highway nn (US nn)
State State Highway nn (SH nn)
County County Road nn (CR nn)
Forest Forest Road nnn (FR nnn)
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This is a list of the 21 federally designated scenic byways in the US state of Colorado. Three federal agencies designate four types of scenic byways. The 21 scenic byways in Colorado include:

Contents

Five of these scenic byways have double federal designations. The 13 combined All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways in Colorado are currently the most of any state. All 21 federal scenic byways are among the 26 Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways.

List of All-American Roads in Colorado

MUTCD M10-1.svg

There are currently two All-American Roads in Colorado with 284 miles (457 km) of roadway.

  1. San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway [4] [5] [6] 236 miles (380 km)
  2. Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Scenic Byway [lower-alpha 1] [7] [8] [9] 48 miles (77 km)

List of National Scenic Byways in Colorado

MUTCD M10-1.svg

There are currently 11 National Scenic Byways in Colorado with 1,169 miles (1,881 km) of roadway. Two adjacent National Scenic Byways in New Mexico have 1,043 miles (1,679 km) of roadway. Two adjacent National Scenic Byways in Utah have 694 miles (1,117 km) of roadway. Two adjacent National Scenic Byways in Arizona have 126 miles (203 km) of roadway.

  1. Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway [10] [11] [12] 80 miles (130 km)
  2. Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway [13] [14] [15] 134 miles (216 km) plus 328 miles (528 km) in Utah [16]
  3. Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway [17] [18] [19] 103 miles (166 km)
  4. Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway [20] [21] [22] 131 miles (211 km)
  5. Grand Mesa Scenic Byway [23] [24] [25] 63 miles (101 km)
  6. Highway of Legends Scenic Byway [26] [27] [28] 82 miles (132 km)
  7. Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway [29] [30] [31] 40 miles (64 km)
  8. Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway [32] [33] [34] 188 miles (303 km) plus 381 miles (613 km) in New Mexico [35]
  9. Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway [36] [37] [38] 117 miles (188 km)
  10. Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway [39] [40] [41] 115 miles (185 km)
  11. Trail of the Ancients Scenic and Historic Byway [42] [43] [44] 116 miles (187 km) plus 366 miles (589 km) in Utah, [45] 126.3 miles (203 km) in Arizona, [46] [47] and 662.4 miles (1,066 km) in New Mexico [48]

List of National Forest Scenic Byways in Colorado

National Forest Scenic Byway.svg

There are currently ten National Forest Scenic Byways in Colorado with 1,012 miles (1,629 km) of roadway.

  1. Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway [49] [50] [51] 101 miles (163 km)
  2. Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway [52] [53] [54] 82 miles (132 km)
  3. Grand Mesa Scenic Byway [23] [24] [25] 63 miles (101 km)
  4. Guanella Pass Scenic Byway [55] [56] [57] 22 miles (35 km)
  5. Highway of Legends Scenic Byway [26] [27] [28] 82 miles (132 km)
  6. Mount Evans Scenic Byway [lower-alpha 2] [58] [59] [60] 49 miles (79 km)
  7. Peak to Peak Scenic Byway [61] [62] [63] 55 miles (89 km)
  8. San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway [4] [5] [6] 236 miles (380 km)
  9. Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway [36] [37] [38] 117 miles (188 km)
  10. West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway [64] [65] [66] 205 miles (330 km)

List of Back Country Byways in Colorado

BLM Backcountry Byway.svg

There are currently three Back Country Byways in Colorado with 323 miles (520 km) of roadway.

  1. Alpine Loop Back Country Byway [67] [68] [69] 63 miles (101 km)
  2. Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway [36] [37] [38] 131 miles (211 km)
  3. Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway [70] [71] [72] 129 miles (208 km)

List of state scenic byways with multiple federal designations

MUTCD M10-1.svg
National Forest Scenic Byway.svg
BLM Backcountry Byway.svg

Five Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways currently have two federal designations.

The following Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway is both an All-American Road and a National Forest Scenic Byway:

The following three Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways are both National Scenic Byways and National Forest Scenic Byways:

The following Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway is both a National Scenic Byway and a Back Country Byway:

See also

Notes

  1. The Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway on U.S. Route 34 is the highest continuous paved highway in North America with its high point at 12,183 feet (3,713 m) elevation near Fall River Pass.
  2. The Mount Evans Scenic Byway on Colorado State Highway 5 is the highest paved road in North America with its upper terminus at 14,140 feet (4,310 m) elevation near the summit of Mount Evans at 14,267 feet (4,349 m) elevation.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Scenic Byway</span> United States category of road

A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often less-traveled roads and promote tourism and economic development. The National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway is a 236-mile (380 km) All-American Road, National Forest Scenic Byway, and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, San Juan, and San Miguel counties, Colorado, USA. The byway forms a loop in southwestern Colorado traversing the heart of the San Juan Mountains. The San Juan Skyway reaches its zenith at Red Mountain Pass at elevation 11,018 feet (3,358 m). Mesa Verde National Park was one of the original UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Silverton Historic District and the Telluride Historic District are National Historic Landmarks.

The Mount Evans Scenic Byway is a 49-mile (79 km) National Forest Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Clear Creek and Jefferson counties, Colorado, United States. The byway ascends to 14,140 feet (4,310 m) of elevation near the 14,271-foot (4,350 m) summit of Mount Blue Sky, making it the highest paved road in North America The byway visits Echo Lake Park, the Mount Goliath Natural Area, the Dos Chappell Nature Center, and Summit Lake Park on its way to the summit. A fee is charged to travel State Highway 5 to the summit and vehicles over 30 feet (9.1 m) long are not allowed, although they are allowed on State Highway 103 which reaches its highest elevation of 11,020 feet (3,359 m) at Juniper Pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guanella Pass Scenic Byway</span> Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway

The Guanella Pass Scenic Byway is a National Forest Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Clear Creek and Park counties, Colorado, USA. The byway traverses Guanella Pass at elevation 11,670 feet (3,557 m) in Arapaho and Pike national forests. The pass lies above timberline surrounded by Grays Peak at elevation 14,278 feet (4,352 m), Torreys Peak 14,275 feet (4,351 m), Mount Blue Sky 14,271 feet (4,350 m), and Mount Bierstadt 14,065 feet (4,287 m). The byway passes through the Georgetown–Silver Plume Historic District, and provides access to the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park and the Georgetown Loop Railroad. The byway is renowned for its spectacular autumn colors during aspen color change from September 10 through October 10 each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway</span> Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway

The Lariat Loop National Scenic and Historic Byway is a National Scenic Byway and a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Jefferson County, Colorado, USA. The byway is a 40-mile (64 km) loop in the Front Range foothills west of Denver through Golden, Lookout Mountain Park, Genesee Park, Evergreen, Morrison, Red Rocks Park, and Dinosaur Ridge. The Lariat Loop connects to the Mount Evans Scenic Byway at Bergen Park.

The Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway is a 55-mile (89 km) All-American Road and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Rocky Mountain National Park in Larimer and Grand counties, Colorado, USA. The byway consists of the 48-mile (77 km) Trail Ridge Road and the connecting 6.9-mile (11 km) Beaver Meadow Road. With a high point at 12,183 feet (3,713 m) elevation, Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in North America. The higher portion of Trail Ridge Road is closed from October to May. The Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building is a National Historic Landmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinosaur Diamond</span> Scenic road in Utah and Colorado in the United States

The Dinosaur Diamond is a 486-mile (782 km) scenic and historic byway loop through the dinosaur fossil laden Uinta Basin of the U.S. states of Utah and Colorado. The byway comprises the following two National Scenic Byways:

The Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway is a 188-mile (303 km) National Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Prowers, Bent, Otero, and Las Animas counties, Colorado, USA. The byway follows the Santa Fe National Historic Trail through southeastern Colorado and connects to the 381-mile (613 km) Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway in New Mexico at Raton Pass, a National Historic Landmark at elevation 7,834 feet (2,388 m). The byway visits Amache National Historic Site and Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, both National Historic Landmarks, and winds between the Spanish Peaks and Raton Mesa, both National Natural Landmarks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine Loop Back Country Byway</span>

The Alpine Loop Back Country Byway is a rugged 63-mile (101 km) Back Country Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in the high San Juan Mountains of Hindale, Ouray, and San Juan counties, Colorado, USA. The byway connects the mountain towns of Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton. The route ranges in elevation from 7,792 feet (2,375 m) in Ouray to 12,800 feet (3,901 m) at Engineer Pass. The byway features high mountain passes, alpine tundra, beautiful mountain meadows, ghost towns, and relics of the silver mining era. While the meadows and tundra are accessible to ordinary passenger vehicles, a high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle is required to travel the entire route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trail of the Ancients</span> National Scenic Byways in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, United States

The Trail of the Ancients is a collection of National Scenic Byways located in the U.S. Four Corners states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. These byways comprise:

The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is a 55-mile (89 km) National Forest Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Gilpin, Boulder, Larimer counties, Colorado, USA. The Peak to Peak Highway was originally built in 1918 and provides views of the Front Range mountains in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It was Colorado's first scenic highway. The Central City/Black Hawk Historic District is a National Historic Landmark.

The South Platte River Trail Scenic and Historic Byway is a 19-mile (31 km) Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Sedgwick County, Colorado, USA. The byway follows the historic trails used during westward expansion. The route, which includes County Road 28 (CR 28) and U.S. Highway 138 (US 138), connects Ovid and Julesburg and encircles the South Platte River. It was designated a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway in 1991.

Minnesota Scenic Byways are a system of roads in the U.S. state of Minnesota which pass through areas of scenic, cultural, or recreational significance. There are currently 22 scenic byways in the system with a total length of 2,948 miles (4,744 km). Eight of these byways are also designated as National Scenic Byways, and the North Shore Scenic Drive is further designated as an All-American Road.

The Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway is an 82-mile (132 km) National Scenic Byway, National Forest Scenic Byway, and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Huerfano and Las Animas counties, Colorado, USA. The byway explores the Spanish Peaks region of San Isabel National Forest, a National Natural Landmark.

The Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway is a 101-mile (163 km) National Forest Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Jackson and Larimer counties, Colorado, US.

The Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic and Historic Byway is a 128-mile (206 km) Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Logan, Morgan, and Weld counties, Colorado, USA. The byway explores the Pawnee Buttes region and Pawnee National Grassland of northeastern Colorado.

The Tracks Across Borders Scenic and Historic Byway is an 89-mile (143 km) Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in La Plata and Archuleta counties, Colorado, USA. From Durango, Colorado, the southern terminal of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a National Historic Landmark, the byway follows the roadbed of the historic narrow-gauge Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad through the Southern Ute Indian Reservation to the New Mexico state line. At the state line, the byway connects with the 9.9-mile (16 km) Narrow-Gauge Scenic Byway which continues on through the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation to Dulce, New Mexico. New Mexico plans to continue the byway on to Chama, New Mexico, the southern terminal of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, another National Historic Landmark, reconnecting the historic railway between Antonito, Colorado and Silverton, Colorado.

The Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway is a 133-mile (214 km) Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Mesa, Montrose, and San Miguel counties, Colorado, USA. The byway explores the Colorado Plateau canyon country of far western Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway</span> Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway

The West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway is a 205-mile (330 km) National Forest Scenic Byway and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Montrose, and Pitkin counties Colorado, USA. The byway reaches its zenith at Kebler Pass, elevation 10,007 feet (3,050 m), between Crested Butte and Paonia.

References

  1. 1 2 Federal Highway Administration. "America's Byways: Colorado". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. America's Scenic Byways. "America's Scenic Byways: Colorado" . Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  3. Bureau of Land Management. "Back Country Byways" (PDF). Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "San Juan Skyway". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "San Juan Skyway". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "San Juan Skyway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  7. "Trail Ridge Road". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  8. "Trail Ridge Road: Rocky Mountain National Park". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  9. "Trail Ridge Road / Beaver Meadow Road". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  10. "Colorado River Headwaters". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  11. "Colorado River Headwaters". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  12. "Colorado River Headwaters Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  13. "Dinosaur Diamond". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  14. "Dinosaur Diamond". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  15. "Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway – Colorado". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  16. "Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway – Utah". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  17. "Frontier Pathways". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  18. "Frontier Pathways". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  19. "Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  20. "Gold Belt Tour". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  21. "Gold Belt Tour". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  22. "Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 "Grand Mesa". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 "Grand Mesa". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  25. 1 2 3 "Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 "Highway of Legends". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  27. 1 2 3 "Highway of Legends". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  28. 1 2 3 "Highway of Legends". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  29. "Lariat Loop". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  30. "Lariat Loop". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  31. "Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  32. "Santa Fe Trail". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  33. "Santa Fe Trail". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  34. "Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway – Colorado". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  35. "Santa Fe Trail – New Mexico". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 "Silver Thread". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 "Silver Thread". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 "Silver Thread Scenic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  39. "Top of the Rockies". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  40. "Top of the Rockies". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  41. "Top of the Rockies". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  42. "Trail of The Ancients". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  43. "Trail of the Ancients". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  44. "Trail of the Ancients – Colorado". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  45. "Trail of the Ancients – Utah". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  46. "Kayenta-Monument Valley Scenic Road". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  47. "Dine' Tah "Among the People" Scenic Road". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  48. "Trail of the Ancients – NM". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  49. "Cache la Poudre-North Park". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  50. "Cache la Poudre – North Park". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  51. "Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  52. "Flat Tops Trail". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  53. "Flat Tops Trail". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  54. "Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  55. "Guanella Pass". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  56. "Guanella Pass". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  57. "Guanella Pass Road". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  58. "Mount Evans". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  59. "Mount Evans". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  60. "Mount Evans Scenic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  61. "Peak to Peak". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  62. "Peak to Peak". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  63. "Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  64. "West Elk Loop". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  65. "West Elk Loop". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  66. "West Elk Loop". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  67. "Alpine Loop". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  68. "Alpine Loop". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  69. "Alpine Loop". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  70. "Los Caminos Antiguos". Colorado Tourism Office. 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  71. "Los Caminos Antiguos". Colorado Department of Transportation. 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  72. "Los Caminos Antiguos". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved June 10, 2023.

38°59′50″N105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)