Colorado’s 25 scenic and historic byways, a total of 2,524 miles, is an extraordinary adventure for those who venture forth. Designated byways focus on the state’s rich cultural and historic elements: mining, ranching, transportation, ancient people, unique cultures, even dinosaurs.
Colorado’s byways program was created by executive order in 1989, with the state designating five existing byways: The Gold Belt Tour and Alpine Loop (BLM Back Country Byways); the San Juan Skyway (USFS National Scenic Byway); and the Peak to Peak and Highway of Legends recognized by the Colorado legislature. Two of Colorado’s 25 byways have been designated All-American Roads, eight are National Scenic Byways and three are Multi- State Byways.
Byways are not highways. Some are paved, others are dirt or gravel, a couple require four-wheel drive vehicles, and several close in the winter.
Colorado became the nation’s role model for the Scenic Byways Program created in late 1991; the first national designations were announced in 1996. Since 1992, the national program has provided over $347 million in funding for 2,672 byway projects in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Colorado has received $13.4 million for more than 200 projects, and those federal funds have been matched by over $13 million in local and state funds. Colorado is ranked third in most grants received.
To celebrate Colorado’s 20th year, and widely admired success, the National Byways Conference met in Denver in August. Sally Pearce, byways coordinator with the state Department of Transportation (who retired last week), has been with the Colorado Byways program from the beginning, shaping it to become one of the nation’s best.
“Byways are not just the Columbine sign and dots on the map; it’s people with passion for Colorado who want to share their part of Colorado with the rest of the world,” Pearce explains. “It’s a true grassroots effort.”
A trio of free brochures celebrate Colorado Byways with trip planning information. (Go to , search for Scenic and Historic Byways and a link to the virtual guides. Also on the site are Colorado Welcome Center locations, where the brochures can be found across the state. For a map of byways, call CDOT at 303-757-9982.)
As local byway groups looked at preservation of resources, their efforts broadened. Folks around the San Juan Skyway, Gold Belt, San Luis and West Elk Loop byways partnered with local land trusts to identify lands that could be protected into the future with conservation easements, and maintain the character of the land. “All the hard work comes from local byways organizations, with dozens of dedicated byways volunteers,”Pearce says.
“People are looking for the small town experience. They want to see more about real life and our past, and the places that are uniquely Colorado. That’s the byways.”
Her extraordinary contribution in shepherding the Byways program in Colorado will endure for many years.
Joanne Ditmer has been writing on environmental and urban issues for The Post since 1962. For more information, go to .
