Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways - 2024/2025

Designated in 2015, this southwest route offers dramatic mountain scenery and ties to the development of the famed Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Begin in Durango, a city established along with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in the 1880s. Visit the museum dedicated to this railway, then stroll the shops, restaurants and hotels housed in the town’s preserved late-19th-century buildings. From Durango, drive east on U.S. 160; get your camera ready for breathtaking views of the snow-flecked La Plata Mountain Range. Continue toward Ignacio on CO 172 for a stop at the Sky Ute Casino Resort. From Ignacio, take CO 151 to Arboles — less than 25 miles away, Chimney Rock National Monument is a must-see that’s known for its twin rock structures. Or, spend time at Colorado’s answer to Lake Powell: Navajo State Park, which boasts a large reservoir, visitor center, campgrounds and cabins. The byway ends in Chama, New Mexico, where you can take a ride on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and complete the story of Colorado’s narrow-gauge history.

Distance: 125 miles • Allow 4–5 hours (Note: 89 miles in Colorado)

Total elevation gain: 6,522–7,871 feet (Note: Travel in inclement weather on gravel portions of the byway is not advised.)