Colorado Scenic Byways

Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways are highway and backroad routes in the U.S. state of Colorado designated by the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission for their scenic and historic values. These byways follow existing roads or highways and are signed with a Colorado blue columbine (the Colorado state flower) logo denoting the route. The Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Program was established in March 1989, and is one of the oldest state scenic byway programs. Since 1989, the program has designated 26 Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways with of roadway, including scenic byway extensions in adjacent states.

In addition to state scenic byway designations, four federal agencies designate specific types of scenic byways:
#The Federal Highway Administration designates and (the highest designation.)
#The National Park Service administers congressionally authorized
#The United States Forest Service designates and manages in National Forests and National Grasslands.
#The Bureau of Land Management designates and manages in areas managed by the BLM.

The Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission works closely with these four federal agencies to select scenic and historic byways that meet federal criteria. Of the 26 current Colorado designated byways, 21 already have a federal designation as well. These include two All-American Roads, 11 National Scenic Byways, ten National Forest Scenic Byways, and three Back Country Byways.

The 13 combined All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways in Colorado are currently the most of any state. Five Colorado byways currently have two federal designations. The San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway is both an All-American Road and a National Forest Scenic Byway. The Grand Mesa National Scenic Byway, the Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway, and the Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway are both National Scenic Byways and National Forest Scenic Byways. The Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway is both a National Scenic Byway and a Back Country Byway.
__TOC__

Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission

The Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission was established in 1989 to administer the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Program. The Governor of Colorado appoints the members of the commission.

The program is a statewide partnership intended to provide recreational, educational, and economic benefits to residents and visitors by designating, interpreting, protecting, and promoting a system of outstanding touring routes in Colorado.

Proposed routes are nominated by local communities and approved by the Commission, but byway development is managed at the local level.

The Commission works with:
*State agencies including the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, and the Colorado Tourism Office;
*Federal agencies including the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Federal Highway Administration;
*County and municipal governments;
*Local byways organizations, community organizations, interested individuals, and public and private resources;
*Scenic byway programs in the seven adjacent states of Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

The Commission uses the following criteria to select potential byways:
#The proposed Scenic and Historic Byway must possess unusual, exceptional, and distinctive scenic, recreational, historical, educational, scientific, geological, natural, wildlife, cultural, or ethnic features.
#The proposed Scenic and Historic Byway must be suitable for the prescribed types of vehicular use.
#The proposed Scenic and Historic Byway must be an existing route and have legal public access.
#The proposed Scenic and Historic Byway must have strong local support and proponents must demonstrate coordination with relevant agencies.
#The proposed Scenic and Historic Byway must be accompanied by a conceptual plan, as specified in the nomination process.
The Commission favors proposed byways with both scenic and historic features. Byways with predominantly scenic features are labeled a "Scenic Byway" or a "National Scenic Byway" if also an All-American Road or a National Scenic Byway. Byways with predominantly historic features are labeled a "Historic Byway". Byways with both strong scenic and historic features are labeled a "Scenic and Historic Byway".

Scenic Byways

Gallery

File:My Public Lands Roadtrip- Wilderness along the Alpine Loop in Colorado (19785510201).jpg, Colorado blue columbine along the Alpine Loop Back Country Byway
File:Big South Trail 6-25 (32036046840).jpg, Poudre Canyon on the Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway
File:Mount Princeton.JPG, Mount Princeton from the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway
File:GoreCanyon_Colorado02.jpg, Gore Canyon on the Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway
File:CONM Independence monument 2.jpg, Colorado National Monument along the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Ripple Creek Overlook-5.JPG, The Flat Tops Wilderness from the Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway
File:Hardscrabble Pass.JPG, Hardscrabble Pass on the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway
File:Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway - Bicyclists Along the Gold Belt Tour Byway - NARA - 7718643.jpg, Bicycling on the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway - Surrounded in Gold on the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway - NARA - 7718681.jpg, Autumn along the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway
File:The Sawtooth and Mount Bierstadt - panoramio (1).jpg, The Sawtooth and Mount Bierstadt from the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway
File:West-spanish-peak03.jpg, West Spanish Peak from the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway
File:Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway - One Hundred Million Years at Your Fingertips - NARA - 7720009.jpg, Dinosaur footprints along the Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Great Sand Dunes NP 1.JPG, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve along Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway
File:EchoLake2.JPG, Echo Lake along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway
File:Pawnee Buttes2010.jpg, Pawnee Buttes along the Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic Byway
File:Colorado rocky mtns.JPG, The Indian Peaks Wilderness from the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
File:San Juan Skyway - Uncompahgre Gorge - NARA - 7721526.jpg, Uncompahgre Gorge along the San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Pioneer wagons Bent's Old Fort, outside La Junta in Otero County, Colorado LCCN2015632523.tif, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site on the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Creede_Main_Street_2.JPG, Creede on the Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Julesburg, Colorado UP Station.jpg, Julesburg Depot on the South Platte River Trail Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Mount Elbert from Twin Lakes.jpg, Mount Elbert and Twin Lakes along the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway
Chimney Rock National Monument, a 4,726-acre U.S. national monument in San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado LCCN2015632916.tif, Chimney Rock National Monument on the Tracks Across Borders Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.jpg, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument on the Trail of the Ancients Scenic and Historic Byway
File:Trail Ridge Road-Beaver Meadow Road - Bighorn Sheep in the Alpine Tundra - NARA - 7722542.jpg, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep along the Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Scenic Byway
File:Unaweep Canyon-2.JPG, Unaweep Canyon on the Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway
File:Fall_Colors_3.jpg, Autumn along the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway

See also

*Scenic byways in the United States

Notes

References

External links

America's BywaysBureau of Land Management Back Country BywaysColorado Department of Transportation

Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways Commission
*
Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways

Colorado Travel MapColorado Tourism OfficeHistory ColoradoNational Forest Scenic Byways

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scenic and Historic Byways, List of Colorado

Lists of roads in Colorado