Attractions (in category: Historic Driving Tours)
The first Colorado Midland passenger train chugged up Granite Canyon (now Elevenmile Canyon) in 1887. A very scenic gravel road now retraces the old Colorado Midland grade where locomotive residue can still be seen around railroad tunnels blasted through solid granite.
Guanella Pass Scenic & Historic Byway follows an old wagon trail used by miners traveling between Georgetown and Grant. Gold lured miners and others to the area, but it was silver that brought prosperity to the valley. Today, visitors may explore this 22-mile historic route by car, and/or hike the many area trails.
This historic auto tour begins at 10,300 feet in downtown Alma, and follows County Road 8 for five miles to Kite Lake (12,000 feet). Sign posts along the route correspond to nine historic sites, including the Paris Mill, that are interpreted in the Buckskin Gulch historic auto tour brochure. Auto tour brochures are available from the Pike National Forest office in Fairplay (719-836-2031).
The Mosquito Pass Historic Auto Tour follows the old stage road (County Road 12) west to the summit of Mosquito Pass. Sign posts along the road correspond to nine historic sites that are interpreted in the auto tour brochure. Four-wheel drive is required beyond sign post number 5. Auto tour brochures are available from the Pike National Forest office in Fairplay (719-836-2031) and online.
The "Road To Riches," as it was known, originally served as a wagon road between Fairplay and Leadville. Sign posts at various points along the road correspond to ten sites that are interpreted in the Weston Pass Historic Auto Tour brochure.
Auto tour brochures are available from the Pike National Forest office in Fairplay (719-836-2031) and online.
The Fourmile Historic Auto Tour retraces the Denver, South Park & Hilltop Railroad up Fourmile Creek. Sign posts along the route correspond to ten different interpretive sites. At the head of this basin, Horseshoe Mountain is believed to be one of the most perfectly shaped glacial cirques (bowls) in existence. Auto tour brochures are available from the Pike National Forest office in Fairplay (719-836-2031) and online.
This 22-mile driving tour follows the old Denver, South Park and Pacific Railway grade over Boreas Pass. From Como the narrow gauge "Highline Route" climbed to the Great Divide (11,482 feet). Sign posts along the road correspond to 12 sites that are interpreted in the Boreas Pass Auto Tour Brochure. Tour brochures and audio CDs($10) are available at the Pike National Forest office in Fairplay (719-836-2031) and online.
Tarryall Road (County Road 77) provides a very scenic auto tour between Jefferson and Lake George. This valley also contains 32 sites that are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Roadside exhibits interpret seven notable sites along the route. Please contact the Ute Trail River Ranch (719)748-3015 or the Park County Tourism Office for a copy of the Tarryall Valley tour brochure.
