San Juan Skyway and Scenic Byway in southwest Colorado

Along the San Juan Skyway in Southwest Colorado
by Carl Burnham

Nestled in the southwest corner of Colorado, the San Juan Skyway is a 235-mile loop that meanders through old mining and railroad towns, Aspen forests, with 14,000 foot peaks, dramatic views of waterfalls, ghost towns, box canyons, rivers, and mountain wonders. Our special feature will focus on our travel to the region, and highlight some of the best accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. History was made here, it beckons at every turn.

The first inhabitants to the San Juans were the Palio Indians some 10,000 years ago, followed by the Ute Indians and the mysterious Anasazi (Navajo name for the "Ancient Ones") Indian cliff dwellers.

There are thousands of archeological wonders left by the ancient Indian civilizations to see. The Spanish explored sections of the area during the 1700s. Adventurers were drawn to the area in the late 1800s for a chance at riches and the steady income from mining. As a result, the Ute Indians would be relegated to a nearby reservation, where they would gain wealth from oil and gas deposits on the land..

The Animas Forks area. Read our features on our area ghost town tours within our town segments. For those seeking to go on a tour of ghost towns, there are almost 100 in the area, with legendary names such as Tomboy, Camp Bird, Animas Forks, Pandora, with mines throughout the mountains (some still in operation). Due to the high elevation and low humidity, buildings still remain in many areas, which we will be featuring.

Photo courtesy of the Rochester Hotel. In 1889, a 23 year old area butcher turned cattle rustler who went by the name of Butch Cassidy (with his gang) would rob his first bank (in Telluride), getting away with almost $25,000. The photo here shows actors from the popular film made in the area, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".

Electricity came to this area of the country first, fueled by the burgeoning mining industry and the power of water. The hydroelectric plant is still in use at Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride. Ride with us along the Animas River on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which is the country's only train line that still operates daily on coal and steam.

Along the Skyway. The San Juan Skyway section along US Highway 550 near Durango and Silverton is referred to as the Million Dollar Highway for many reasons (one being that it cost nearly that much to build). When originally built, the road bed was paved with a low grade of gold ore from surrounding mines.

Today, young and old are attracted to the region year-round for its multitude of festivals, events, casinos, history, and outdoor fun. In the summer and fall, choose from hiking, golfing, river rafting, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, four-wheeling, mountain climbing, or relax in area hot springs. The area has some of the best snow skiing in the country, including many cross-country skiing trails, plus ice skating, and snowmobiling.

In our special segments here on the area, we focus on our travels to Telluride, Mancos, Durango, Silverton, and Mesa Verde National Park, and will highlight some of the best accommodations, restaurants, and attractions available.

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