Colorado Official State Vacation Guide - 2026
Ride Colorado’s EV-Friendly Scenic Byways
2025-12-10 10:09:08
Colorado’s 26 scenic and historic byways connect you with places where the terrain, culture and everyday life reflect the character of the region. Along these drives, you’ll have the opportunity to walk through ancient cliff dwellings, trace a pioneer route across the plains, sip local varietals at a working vineyard or embark on a trail that leads to panoramic views.
Nineteen of these byways are electric vehicle-friendly, with charging stations conveniently located near museums, restaurants and downtown areas. That means you can take your time exploring while your car powers up — making it easier than ever to enjoy a sustainable road trip through Colorado’s most scenic and storied routes.
Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway
Following one of the oldest trade routes in the American West, the Santa Fe Trail stretches across southeastern Colorado, linking towns where frontier history, Hispanic heritage and prairie ecosystems intersect.
In Trinidad, preserved adobe buildings and 19th-century storefronts shape the downtown and just a short walk away, you can explore the Trinidad History Museum campus. Inside the Baca House and Bloom Mansion, period furnishings, trade goods and personal belongings reflect the wealth, cultural influences and trading relationships that developed along the Santa Fe Trail during Trinidad’s rise as a commercial hub.
Cruising south, you’ll make your way to La Junta, home to the Koshare Indian Museum. Constructed in the 1940s by a local Boy Scout troop, the space includes a hand-built kiva and an extensive collection of Native American art, beadwork and textiles.
Farther east along the byway, John Martin Reservoir State Park draws anglers, kayakers and birders to a high-plains lake bordered by cottonwoods and wetlands. The area supports over 400 documented bird species, and late-spring migration fills the air with calls from warblers, herons and terns. Hook up to Level 2 EV charging, then walk the Red Shin Trail or cast a line from one of several shoreline access points.
Collegiate Peaks Scenic and Historic Byway
Between Salida and Buena Vista, the Collegiate Peaks Scenic and Historic Byway cuts through the Arkansas River Valley in one of Colorado’s most dynamic recreation corridors. The route sits beneath a cluster of 14,000-foot peaks named after Ivy League universities — a nod to early surveyors — and connects towns known for their creative energy and access to the outdoors.
In Salida, charging stations are scattered near art studios, gear shops and casual eateries in the historical downtown, where many buildings date back to the railroad boom. The Chaffee County Libations Loop links several local beverage makers; venture to Tres Litros Beer Company for hopforward ales, Wood’s High Mountain Distillery for small-batch gin and whiskey, and Mountain Spirit Winery for Colorado-grown reds.
About 30 minutes north, a gravel road leads into St. Elmo — one of the state’s best-preserved ghost towns. Built during the mining rush of the 1880s, the town retains a seasonal general store, a former hotel and a handful of homes still surrounded by wooden fences and rusted equipment.
Back on the byway, Buena Vista’s riverside district was built for exploration. At the edge of South Main, the Surf Hotel stands out with its modern design, polished interiors and live-music calendar that draws touring artists from around the country. EV chargers are located nearby, and from the hotel, it’s a short walk to trail access, restaurants and locally owned shops that extend into the heart of town.
Trail of the Ancients Scenic and Historic Byway
In southwest Colorado, the Trail of the Ancients Scenic and Historic Byway brings you into direct contact with millennia of human history. The route connects modern towns with archaeological sites that trace the deep cultural lineage of Indigenous peoples in the Four Corners region.
Begin in Towaoc at the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park. Tours are led by Ute guides and include access to cliff dwellings, petroglyph panels and ancestral sites not open to the public without a reservation. These guided experiences combine oral histories with on-the-ground interpretation, offering context for a deeper understanding.
Northwest of Towaoc, Sutcliffe Vineyards operates in McElmo Canyon, growing grapes at 5,300 feet above sea level. Relax in the outdoors with a tasting surrounded by fruit trees and sandstone rock formations. The vineyard specializes in Rhône varietals like syrah, and its off-the-grid feel makes the experience especially memorable.
Cortez lies east of Mesa Verde National Park and serves as a base for exploring the region’s deeper archaeological landscape. You can access charging here before heading into the park, where ranger-guided tours visit sites like Cliff Palace and Long House. Mesa Verde includes more than 600 cliff dwellings, and seasonal programs allow you to climb ladders, walk into alcoves and hear how people once lived on this dramatic terrain.
Flat Tops Trail Scenic and Historic Byway
The Flat Tops Trail Scenic and Historic Byway links Yampa and Meeker across one of the most geologically unique mountain ranges in Colorado. Unlike the jagged peaks farther east, the Flat Tops were formed by volcanic activity and shaped by glaciers, leaving behind broad summits, hidden lakes and alpine meadows.
Start in Yampa, where you can charge up, then pick up supplies or maps at the ranger station before heading west. Several Colorado Birding Trail segments begin just outside town, leading into wetland and conifer habitats where you might catch a glimpse of northern goshawks or red-naped sapsuckers. From late spring through early fall, wildflowers blanket the forest floor in purples, yellows and reds.
As you gain elevation, Dunckley Pass offers wide-angle views of the Flat Tops Wilderness. Interpretive signs explain the region’s volcanic origins, and clear days reveal layers of basalt cliffs and spruce-covered valleys. The road turns to gravel near the summit — manageable for most vehicles, but best taken slowly to allow time for stops and photos.
Trappers Lake sits near the western edge of the byway and played a key role in the 1964 Wilderness Act. Just a few minutes from the sparkling waterfront, Trappers Lake Lodge rents rustic cabins and guides fly-fishing and horseback excursions into surrounding valleys.
Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic and Historic Byway
On Colorado’s northeastern plains, Pawnee Pioneer Trails opens up a region shaped by geology, shortgrass prairie and homesteading history. The route spans Ault to Sterling, with an offshoot to Fort Morgan, and rewards travelers with wide-open views, wildlife sightings and cultural stops tied to the land’s agricultural legacy.
Near Ault, the Pawnee Buttes rise from the prairie, two sedimentary formations more than 300 feet high. The hike from the trailhead crosses open rangeland and includes interpretive panels about the area’s unique ecosystem. This is one of the best places in the state to view shortgrass prairie birds including mountain plovers, burrowing owls and lark buntings — Colorado’s state bird.
In Sterling, the Overland Trail Museum recreates a frontier-era town. The museum’s layout encourages self-guided wandering through shaded grounds. Step into a general store, print shop or church, each staged with tools and artifacts that reflect early settler life on the plains.
Power up the car by Parts & Labor Brewing Company, which pours small-batch beers inside a converted auto shop. Sample a lineup that highlights regional ingredients and classic styles — like a dry-hopped pilsner crafted with Colorado-grown malt or a seasonal wheat beer flavored with local fruit — all while surrounded by retro decor.
Do Colorado Right: Have good clean fun by bringing a bag for trash — bonus points if it’s compostable.
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