COME TO LIFE | Pueblo Sidetrips Take a scenic drive west of Pueblo to the towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff , between the Wet and Sangre de Cristo mountains. The quiet area, home to 200 miles of hiking and biking trails and 54 alpine lakes, has an air of the undiscovered. You’re likely to spot real cowboys and gals herding cattle on horseback and historic one-room schoolhouses. The communities were also the first in Colorado to be recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association; schedule a star party and visit Smokey Jack Observatory. South of Pueblo, Colorado City anchors the southern leg of the Frontier Pathways scenic byway. The 104-mile road along the splendid Sangre de Cristos travels through the San Isabel National Forest, by Hardscrabble Canyon and 40-acre Lake Isabel, an ideal spot for fishing, hiking and picnicking. Head west for 24 miles along Hwy. 165 to Bishop Castle, a quirky fortress Jim Bishop has been building for more than 40 years and billed as “The Largest One-Man Construction Project in the Country.” Stay & Play Options Colorado City , Pueblo (page 186), Pueblo West , Silver Cliff , Westcliffe BISHOP CASTLE MATT LANCASTER. PLAN YOUR TRIP AT Colorado.com/TripIdeas 148 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2022: Page 148
