Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway
Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway
809 Harrison Ave, PO Box 861
Leadville, CO 80461
Phone:719-486-3900
Web: www.topoftherockiesbyway.org Description:Byway climbs from 8,000 feet to over 11,300 feet above sea level where snowfall can exceed 360 inches per year. Travelers cross the 10,424-foot Tennessee Pass en route to the booming mining town of Leadville, the highest incorporated community in the US at 10,200 feet above sea level. Visitor activities include four-wheeling, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking on Colorado's highest mountains, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, both reachng over 14,400 feet. The national forests surrounding Leadvilleoffer opportunities for other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, fishing, wildlife viewing, and golf.
Legth: 75 miles. Start/Endpoint: TheByway run east from Twin Lakes on SR 82 (Independence Pass Road), then north onUS 24 to Leadville, where the byway forks into two routes. The northwest fork continueson US 24 north to Minturn. The northeast fork follows SR 91 to Copper Mountain. Time to Allow: 2.5 hours. Designation/Year: National Scenic Byway (1998).
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