The Tracks Across Borders Scenic and Historic Byway is an
Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway
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 highwa ...
located in
La Plata and
Archuleta counties,
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the wes ...
, USA. From
Durango, Colorado, the southern terminal of the
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
, the byway follows the roadbed of the historic
narrow-gauge
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structu ...
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to ''Rio Grande'', D&RG or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was an American Class I railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow-gauge line running south from D ...
through the
Southern Ute Indian Reservation
The Southern Ute Indian Reservation (Ute dialect: Kapuuta-wa Moghwachi Núuchi-u) is a Native American reservation in southwestern Colorado near the northern New Mexico state line. Its territory consists of land from three counties; in descendin ...
to the
New Mexico state line. At the state line, the byway connects with the Narrow-Gauge Scenic Byway which continues on through the
Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation
Jicarilla Apache (, Jicarilla language: Jicarilla Dindéi), one of several loosely organized autonomous bands of the Eastern Apache, refers to the members of the Jicarilla Apache Nation currently living in New Mexico and speaking a Southern Athaba ...
to
Dulce, New Mexico
Dulce ( or ; apj, Lóosi)
is a census-designated place (CDP) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,743 at the 2010 census, almost entirely Native American. It is the largest community and tribal headquarters of ...
. New Mexico plans to continue the byway on to
Chama, New Mexico
Chama is a village in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,022 at the 2010 census. The village is located in the Rocky Mountains about south of the Colorado-New Mexico border.
Geography
Chama is located at (36.8947 ...
, the southern terminal of the
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, often abbreviated as the C&TSRR, is a narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on of track between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, in the United States. The railroad is named for two geogr ...
, another
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
, reconnecting the historic railway between
Antonito, Colorado
Antonito is a Statutory Town located in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 647 at the 2020 United States Census.
History
Antonito began life as a sheep herding camp known as San Antonio Junction, referring to its ...
and
Silverton, Colorado
Silverton is a statutory town that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. The town is located in a remote part of the western San Juan Mountains, a ra ...
.
The byway connects to the
San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway
The San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway is a All-American Road, National Forest Scenic Byway, and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway located in Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, San Juan, and San Miguel counties, Colorado, U ...
at Durango.
Route
Gallery
See also
*
History Colorado
History Colorado is a historical society that was established in 1879 as the State Historical Society of Colorado, also known as the Colorado Historical Society. History Colorado is a 501(c)(3) organization and an agency of the State of Colorado un ...
*
List of scenic byways in Colorado
The U.S. state of Colorado currently has 26 Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways with of roadway. Of these 26 byways, 21 currently have at least one federal designation. These 26 byways include:
*2 All-American Roads designated by the Federal Hi ...
*
Scenic byways in the United States
Many roads and highways in the United States are labeled scenic byways for having exceptional scenic, historical, archaeological, natural, cultural, or recreational significance. These scenic routes are usually formally designated by national, stat ...
Notes
References
External links
America's Scenic Byways: ColoradoColorado Department of Transportation
Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways Commission
*
Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways
Colorado Travel MapColorado Tourism OfficeHistory Colorado
Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways
Transportation in Colorado
Transportation in Archuleta County, Colorado
Transportation in La Plata County, Colorado
Tourist attractions in Colorado
Tourist attractions in Archuleta County, Colorado
Tourist attractions in La Plata County, Colorado
U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 550
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