21 | Frontier Pathways

Length: 103 miles. Driving time: 3.5 hours.
Open All Year
Designated a National Scenic Byway

The name of the byway sums it up perfectly. This old frontier zone south of the Arkansas River marked the intersection of Native American, Spanish, French, and American territories. Thousands left their footsteps in this much traveled corridorfirst the Ute Indians, then Spanish and American explorers, and finally traders, fur trappers, homesteaders, ranchers, and gold prospectors.

Those bygone travelers viewed the same snow-capped mountains, jagged canyons, carpeted meadows, and aspen-covered hillsides that we marvel at today, and the signs of their passage remain. Historic buildings line the route, bearing witness to long-lost cattle empires, mining operations, and Victorian towns. Let this be your pathway to adventure

Main Town: Pueblo, Wetmore, Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, Rye, Colorado City

Features include:

• San Isabel National Forest
• Pueblo Lake State Park, Lake San Isabel
• El Pueblo Museum (Pueblo)
• Visitors can experience the Sangre de Cristo Mountains — 22 peaks over 13,000 feet

Wildlife: Blackbear, pronghorn, elk, lynx, wolverine