The Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway is a

National Scenic Byway A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Co ...

and

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 the high Rocky Mountains of

Eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...

, Lake, Pitkin, Summit counties, Colorado, United States. The byway showcases the two highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains: Mount Elbert at elevation and

Mount Massive Mount Massive is the second-highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the U.S. state of Colorado. The prominent fourteener of the Sawatch Range is located in the Mount Massive Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, west ...

at elevation . The byway connects with the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway at the junction of Colorado State Highway 82 and

U.S. Highway 24 U.S. Route 24 (US 24) is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is in Independence Township, Mich ...

. The byway has two northern extensions. The northwestern extension extends from the historic mining town of Leadville over Tennessee Pass to Interstate 70 near Minturn. The northeastern extension extends from Leadville over Fremont Pass to I-70 at Copper Mountain. The two extensions can be driven together as a tour from I-70 to Leadville and back to I-70. The byway crosses the Continental Divide at Independence Pass at elevation, Fremont Pass at elevation, and Tennessee Pass at elevation. Independence Pass is closed from October to May. The gold mining ghost town of Independence is a historic townsite west of Independence Pass. The Leadville Historic District is a National Historic Landmark. History Colorado operates the

Healy House Museum Healy House Museum was the Leadville, Colorado home built in 1878 by mining engineer and city father August R. Meyer for his bride, Emma. It was purchased in 1888 by Daniel Healy (1857-1912), who operated a boarding house with his cousin Nell ...

and

Dexter Cabin Dexter Cabin was the Leadville, Colorado home and hunting lodge of James V. Dexter, a mining investor and businessman. Although it is a cabin, the interior has been described as "surprisingly plush," "elegantly finished," and "incredibly orna ...

in Leadville. The City of Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America with a downtown elevation of . __TOC__

Route description

The byway starts in Aspen, traveling on east over Independence Pass and near the Twin Lakes to just north of the town of Granite. The route then continues north on through Leadville to Interstate 70 (I-70). A spur of the byway continues along the entire length of from Leadville to Copper Mountain, through Fremont Pass.

Major intersections

Main route

Fremont Pass route

Gallery

File:DowntownLeadvilleCO.jpg, Leadville Historic District

Notes

References

External links

Road Trip on the Top of the Rockies Scenic BywayColorado Department of Transportation

Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways Commission
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Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways

Colorado Travel MapColorado Tourism OfficeHistory ColoradoNational Forest Scenic Byways
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