The Scenic Drive In Colorado That Runs Straight Through The Charming Small Town Of Lake City
By Christy Articola|Published August 23, 2023
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
Who doesn’t love scenic byways? Lucky for us, Colorado is full of them! One that you might not have tried yet is the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, and it’s pretty fantastic indeed. It starts in the town of South Fork and passes through Creede and Lake City on its 117-mile journey to Blue Mesa Reservoir. You’re not going to believe the beauty that you see and experience along the way.
Get ready for a fantastic little road trip! You can do this drive in a day and you'll love every minute of it. This drive along Highway 149 was designated as a National Forest Service and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway in 1990. It's easy to see why. You'll start in the town of South Fork, a small town with a population of just 500.
After passing through the Coller State Wildlife Area, where you'll likely see lots of Elk, you'll eventually make your way to Wagon Wheel Gap. This was an important stagecoach stop in the late 1800s.
If you haven't visited the Wheeler Geologic Area before, plan some time for this spot. Colorado is known for its geological features, but this is one of the most interesting ones in the state.
The rock formations here were created by volcanoes over 65 million years ago.
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The town of Creede was founded in 1890 when Nicholas Creede found silver in the area - and by 1893, over 10,000 people had moved there to try their own luck. Today, the population is just 275, but there are lots of interesting historical buildings that you'll love checking out.
Finally, you'll pass through historic and interesting Lake City. It was founded in 1874. Like Creede, it has dozens of historical buildings for you to view and explore. Today, 430 people live there.
The pot of gold at the end of this rainbow and scenic byway is the Blue Mesa Reservoir. It's part of Curecanti National Recreation Area near Gunnison, and it's an excellent place for camping, hiking, boating, and other outdoor recreation activities.
The Silver Thread Scenic Byway is an exciting adventure across and through some of the best parts of the state! You’ll absolutely love this scenic drive and all that it includes. Plan a visit today or soon; it’s especially lovely during the fall season, but anytime is perfect. Again, we’re so fortunate to live in a state with so much beauty.
